NORTH BERGEN, NJ (July 29, 2024) Eloy Cortez, a 27-year veteran of the ILA, was recently appointed as an International Vice President to fill the unexpired term of legendary ILA leader Clyde Fitzgerald, who stepped down from the International Executive Council.
“Our ILA Executive Council voted unanimously to appoint Eloy Cortez as a Vice President to replace Clyde Fitzgerald,” said International President Harold J. Daggett. “Brother Eloy is a young, energetic ILA officer who has proven to be an effective labor leader. He has big shoes to fill in replacing one of my most talented and gifted ILA officers – Clyde Fitzgerald. It has been my honor to work alongside Clyde for over half a century. He is my colleague and my friend. Though he’s leaving his position on the ILA Executive Council, he is not retiring from the ILA, and I will continue to rely on experience and knowledge about our industry and the ILA.”
A native Texan, Eloy Cortez was born in Galveston to Jose and Guadalupe Cortez on May 29, 1979. He is the youngest of four children with a brother and two sisters. He grew up in Pearland, Texas and graduated from Pearland High School in 1997. That same year he joined the Pearland Volunteer Fire Department as he aspired of being a Houston Firefighter. Although his career choice changed, his lifelong passion for volunteering and serving his community did not.
Cortez began his affiliation with the International Longshoremen’s Association on June 6, 1997, at the age of 18 working in clerical capacities at the Port of Houston represented by Local 1351 and as longshoreman for Local 24. His hard work and determination led him to be elected by his peers as Business Agent for ILA Local 1351 before the age of 25. He would go on to serve in several elected capacities for ILA Local 1351 holding the trusted positions of Executive Board member, Secretary-Treasurer, serving on numerous committees, and eventually Vice President of Local 1351.
In October of 2016 Cortez was appointed as Representative for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, ILA, a position he still holds. This appointment put Cortez not only to representing ILA workers in Houston, but representing the ILA District from Brownsville, Texas, all the ports in the Gulf, and the ports in the South Atlantic reaching all the way to North Carolina. Since his time as Representative for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District he has also been appointed Representative for the ILA’s International office.
Eloy Cortez and his wife Daizy have been married since 2003 and are proud parents of three daughters Lisette, Aubrie, and Avery. The family resides in Friendswood, Texas along with their family dog Apollo.