ADOPTED - MARCH 26, 2002

Agenda Item No. 8

Introduced by the Administrative Services/Personnel Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION HONORING RAYMOND P. ZAMORA

RESOLUTION #02-89

WHEREAS, Raymond P. Zamora was born in Owosso, Michigan to migrant workers Jesus and Gregoria Zamora, who came to Michigan seeking a better life for themselves and their children and who wanted the best work, opportunity and education for their children; and

WHEREAS, as one of eight children, he worked in the fields beside his parents picking onions, pickles, cherries and many other crops to feed the American citizens; and

WHEREAS, Ray served as a soldier in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965, and in 1966 he married Lucia Gonzales; and

WHEREAS, Ray returned to school in the early 1970's and graduated from Lansing's Eastern High School, he served on the PTO for the Holy Cross School for a period of time and became involved with the Lansing School District's Chicano Advisory Committee where he served as President from 1995-97; and

WHEREAS, as a devout Catholic, Ray was very involved with the Cristo Rey Church where he served as a member of the parish council and the choir, as well as a past choir director; and

WHEREAS, in October of 1999, he retired from General Motors after 34 years of service, where he became an active member of the UAW Local 602, served on the Local's Civil Rights Committee, Elections Committee, CAP Council Delegate and a member on the Executive Board as a Guide; and

WHEREAS, Ray was also active with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, serving as an officer, he worked on numerous voter registrations, voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts; and

WHEREAS, on September 24, 1995, the UAW Local 602 honored Ray as the first recipient of the Cesar E. Chavez Humanitarian Award and on March 31, 2000, the birth date of Cesar E. Chavez, Ray was recognized for his work in seeking dignity and justice for all by the Michigan Democratic Hispanic/Latino Caucus; and

WHEREAS, prior to his death on February 22, 2002, Ray was involved in many community initiatives, most recently working with the Mestizo Anishnabe Health Alliance to improve access to health care for his Latino community as an Assistant Conference Coordinator for the 7^th Annual Latina/o Workers Leadership Institute and a 1999 graduate of the first Leadership Development Program in Lansing sponsored by the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby honor Raymond P. Zamora, a true Latino pioneer and role model, a strong believer in education and equality for all, who was always the activist working to make it happen, to leave this world a better place than when he arrived.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/PERSONNEL: Yeas: Swope, De Leon, Celentino, Severino

Nays: None Absent: Lynch Approved 3/19/02