Date: 2013-04-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to one of the greatest labor leaders that I have known and to honor the memory and mourn the loss of Ronnie Raspberry of Houston. Texas. I rise to pay tribute to him as a champion of working people. one of the great community leaders in the cities of Houston and Harris in Texas. Unfortunately. he passed. In this month of April. we lost a dear friend. Ronnie Raspberry was born in 1941 in the midst of the times of challenge. And he married his beloved wife. Roycie. and they are proud parents of five children. Being born in the midst of World War II. he understood as a child the value of service. and so he joined the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged. He then began to work in an apprenticeship program under the Houston Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry. He then became a member of Local Union No. 716 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. where I first met him. What a generous heart. what a man who loved people. He loved to train people. He was a fighter to ensure that there was dignity in the workplace. In 1974. at age 32. he was elected as business manager. He held that position for 15 years. During his stewardship. he served as its chief contract negotiator. chairman. and secretary of numerous boards and trusts and committees. He continued to represent labor at labor conferences. He was elected and served 5 years as a representative of the Sixth District International Executive Council. Ronnie was awarded the West Gulf Ports Council "Labor Leader of the Year." Mr. Speaker. and appointed to many other positions by Governor White. We knew he was a good leader. So I stand here today to offer my deepest sympathy to his wife and family and to thank him for his service as he rests in peace. We love you. We thank you for being the great leader that youve been to all those who are in need. fighting for the working people. Thank you. Ronnie. God bless you. And. again. may you rest in peace. Mr. Speaker. I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Ronnie Raspberry. a great American. a champion of working people. and one of the great community leaders in the City of Houston. Ronnie Raspberry died this past Monday. April 8. 2013. at the age of 71. His loss is mourned not only by his family and friends but the thousands of people he helped and inspired over the course of his full and eventful life. Born on August 14. 1941. Ronnie Raspberry later met and married his beloved wife. Roycie. and they were the proud parents of five children. After serving and receiving an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps. Ronnie applied for and was accepted into a 4year Apprenticeship Program under the Houston Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry. After completing his first of apprenticeship training. Ronnie became a member of Local Union #716 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Ronnie served on every committee his local union. IBEW Local #716. would allow. Ronnie completed his apprenticeship. graduating with honor. He then ran for and was elected to a number of Board positions in his Local Union. In 1974. at the age of 32. he was elected as Business Manager of IBEW Local Union #716. He held this position for 15 years. During Ronnies stewardship of Local Union No. 716. he served as its Chief Contract Negotiator. and as both Chairman and/or Secretary of numerous Boards. Trusts. and Committees. as well as all other responsibilities that go with being Business Manager. He continued to represent labor at Labor Conferences and Conventions. as well as Political Conferences and Conventions. Ronnie was elected and served 5 years as representative to the Sixth District International Executive Council of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers representing the IBEW members from Texas. Oklahoma. Louisiana. Arkansas. New Mexico. and Arizona. In 1986. Ronnie was awarded the West Gulf Ports Council "Labor Leader of the Year" Award. Ronnie also appointed by then Governor Mark White. to serve on the Management Task Force for the Texas State Treasurer. Ann Richards. He later was appointed by Governor Ann Richards as a Commissioner on the Texas State Licensing and Regulation Commission. a position he held for six years. Ronnie served as the Executive Secretary of the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council until December 2012 when he finished his term. He then joined the high respected law firm of Williams Bailey. now Williams Kherkher. of Houston. Texas. serving as Labor Relations Officer. a position he held until he passed away earlier this week. Mr. Speaker. Ronnie Raspberry lived a full and consequential life and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him as a friend. colleague. advocate. and community leader. Most of all he will be missed by his relatives and his children who knew and loved him as Dad. his loving wife. Roycie. Mr. Speaker. I ask a moment of silence in honor of the memory of Ronnie Raspberry.