[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4666]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         TRIBUTE TO ZEKE GRADER

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing William F. ``Zeke'' Grader, Jr., who is being honored by 
the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations and the 
Institute for Fisheries Resources in recognition of his extraordinary 
contributions to the fishing community.
  Zeke's roots to fishing date back to his childhood. He was raised in 
Fort Bragg, a small coastal town in Mendocino County, and spent his 
free time down on the docks helping his family's fish business. Zeke 
later attended Sonoma State University and graduated with a degree in 
political science before going to law school at the University of San 
Francisco.
  In 1976, Zeke began working as the executive director of the Pacific 
Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, PCFFA, a trade 
organization supporting commercial fishing and fishermen rights. 
Throughout his 40-year career with PCFFA, Zeke worked tirelessly to 
support fishermen and their families, serving with unmatched 
distinction and skill. Zeke always understood the importance of ocean 
conservation, supporting groundbreaking legislation such as the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and the California Coastal Act and advocating for 
sustainable fisheries that protected against overfishing and restored 
fish habitats.
  Zeke's passion for the ocean led him to other leadership positions, 
including roles as the founding executive director of the Institute for 
Fisheries Resources, a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce's 
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, and a member of the Marine Fish 
Conservation Network.
  A resolute and determined defender of the sea and those whose 
livelihoods depend on it, Zeke Grader is truly a force of nature. His 
work will continue to make a difference for years to come, and I send 
my deepest gratitude to Zeke for his outstanding service to California 
and the Nation.

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