[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 13869] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING DR. ALVIN R. LEONARD ______ HON. BARBARA LEE of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Alvin R. Leonard. We lost this kind spirit and community leader on April 20, 2008. A remarkable trailblazer and humanitarian, Dr. Leonard lived a full and vibrant 90 years, during which he transformed our community immeasurably. Although his presence will be sorely missed, there is no doubt that his legacy will continue far into the future. Dr. Alvin R. Leonard was a respected physician and community activist who used his talents and intelligence to serve those most in need in our community. Nearly 40 years ago, he helped found the Berkeley Free Clinic in my congressional district. Dr. Leonard then dedicated the remainder of his life to making sure people were given the opportunity to achieve and maintain good health. For Dr. Leonard, this was especially important for those who faced economic hardships or strenuous life circumstances. During the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Leonard served as the director of public health for the City of Berkeley, California. Dr. Leonard truly fulfilled his role as a public servant, introducing initiatives which championed those most in need regardless of the opposition or skepticism he faced from contemporaries. An example of his foresight is the seat-belt campaign he launched to encourage people to buy the safety devices and install them in their cars--long before national legislation mandated that auto manufacturers build cars equipped with them. One of his greatest characteristics, noted by his family and friends, was his sense of humor. Dr. Leonard clearly knew the importance of love, camaraderie, community building, and maintaining a youthful spirit in the pursuit of both health and social justice. During his tenure as public health director, Dr. Leonard succeeded in persuading department employees to run up and down the stairs for exercise, convinced many to quit smoking, and always urged people to take their health both seriously and personally by giving up bad habits and encouraging lifestyle changes. Dr. Alvin Leonard was an exceptionally vibrant and creative person whose accomplishments spanned decades where he personally impacted the lives of those around him. He documented pesticide poisoning among farm workers in the 1940s, created statewide programs to control high-blood pressure among specific ethnic groups and examined the health effects of electromagnetic fields. Perhaps most notably, in 1969 Dr. Leonard helped to establish the Berkeley Free Clinic. Dr. Leonard was a pioneer and champion of our most vulnerable community members. Although the Greater Bay Area is one of the most diverse and innovative regions in the Nation, it also faces many challenges including homelessness, poverty, and health inequities. Dr. Leonard's compassion for those less fortunate motivated him to create a ``street medicine'' clinic. The Berkeley Free Clinic found a permanent home in the Berkeley community, one of the Nation's epicenters for social justice advocacy. The clinic services our neighbors who are in the most dire economic need by providing them with a right that should be universal--the right to health care. Essential to Dr. Leonard's personal convictions and vision are the compassion and personal care shown to residents of my district who seek assistance from the clinic. In its 40-year tenure, the clinic has served thousands of people, and today it is a strong pillar of hope for many in my district. Although Dr. Leonard formally retired in 1984, he continued public health consulting until his own health no longer permitted it during this past year. Dr. Leonard's legacy will certainly live on through the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know him. His contributions to our society were so great that his positive influence will continue on even through those who were never able to meet him. Today, California's Ninth Congressional District salutes and honors Dr. Alvin R. Leonard. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, especially his wife of 65 years, Pearl, and his daughters Barbara and Cathy. May his soul rest in peace. ____________________