E1274 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 10, 2013 PERSONAL EXPLANATION Floyd W. Davis—February 1992–April 1999 of about 2,300 people at Alpenrose Stadium in Hycel B. Taylor—November 2001–May Portland, Oregon by scoring two runs in the HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ 2005 bottom of the first inning and not letting up. Ar- OF PENNSYLVANIA Keith E. Gordon—January 2007–March izona’s red-hot offense blew the game wide 2010 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES open in the bottom of the fourth inning, nearly Tyrone E. Jordan—October 2010 to Present reaching the 10-run rule. Tuesday, September 10, 2013 The Historic Pilgrim Baptist Church has I like to extend my deepest congratulations Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall been home to many renowned and distin- to the Sunnyside Little League girls and to the No. 448. I was unable to be present for the guished people, among them are: coaches that contributed to the overall suc- vote on H.R. 2052. Ministers: Reverend Clarence Cobbs, Rev- cess and victory of the team. Had I been present, I would have voted erend J.B. Felker, Reverend Elmer L. Fowler, I give my most sincere thanks to the Sunny- ‘‘yes.’’ Reverend Stroy Freeman, Reverend Louis side girls for representing Tucson, AZ with f Rawls, Reverend Richard Keller (Pastor of Pil- such great pride and passion. These girls are grim Jr. Church). heroes and role models and deserve recogni- TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORIC Entrepreneurs: Oscar Brown, Attorney/Real tion for their accomplishments. PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH Estate, Delois Barrett-Campbell, Barrett Sis- f ters, Bessie Coleman, First Black Woman Avi- HON. DANNY K. DAVIS ator, S.B. Fuller, Fuller Products Company, PERSONAL EXPLANATION OF ILLINOIS Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer, Sally Martin, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gospel Singer, Lee Randolph, Professor, Jack HON. GEORGE MILLER Johnson, First Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Tuesday, September 10, 2013 OF CALIFORNIA Claude Holman, President Pro-Tem of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speak- Chicago City Council. Tuesday, September 10, 2013 er, the Pilgrim Baptist Church was founded in Outstanding Artists who have performed at September of 1916, as a part of the dreams Pilgrim: James Cleveland, Aretha Franklin, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. and work of the Union Grove Prayer Meeting The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Staple Sing- Speaker, on September 9th, I was unavoid- Club who met in the home of Deacon John A. ers, Albertina Walker, Inez Andrews. ably detained and missed Roll Nos. 448 and Finnie at 242 East 42nd Street. Because of its Pilgrim was actively involved in the Civil 449. Had I been present, I would have voted steady growth the club was constantly seeking Rights Movement and on many occasions the ‘‘yea’’ on both Roll No. 448 and Roll No. 449. larger space and after three months the found- Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King delivered f er and first Chairman of the Deacon Board, sermons at the church. Mr. John A. Finnie, his wife, Juanita, Georgia In 1973, Pilgrim Baptist Church was listed TRIBUTE TO WAYNE THOMPSON Hansberry, L. Whitley and S.S. Harkness on the National Register of Historic Places by joined together to organize a Church. The Chicago’s City Council and was later des- HON. MIKE COFFMAN group asked for and received help from sev- ignated a Chicago Landmark on December OF COLORADO eral ministers. Mrs. Finnie suggested the 18, 1981. In December 2001, the Church was IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES name, Pilgrim Baptist Church and organized placed on the National Ten Sacred Places to Tuesday, September 10, 2013 the Pilgrim Senior Choir. save list by Partners for Sacred Places, a The Church immediately took off and in Jan- Philadelphia based religious preservationist Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to uary 1917, Reverend Jessie D. Luck of New group. recognize Wayne Thompson of Denver, Colo- York became its first Pastor. Pilgrim experi- In January 2006, the Historic Pilgrim Church rado as he will be honored later this week by enced great growth and in 1922 Pilgrim Bap- was ravaged by fire. The fire virtually de- the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post tist Church purchased Kehilath Anshe Ma’ariv stroyed the interior; but the exterior walls are #5061, for over 40 years of committed service Synagogue located at 3301 S. Indiana Ave- still standing. to Colorado’s neediest veterans. Wayne nue. This edifice had been constructed in In 2010, designs were unveiled to raise Pil- Thompson’s is one of the exceptional stories 1891, and designed by the famed architect grim Baptist Church, a historic architectural of lifelong dedication to public service. Mr. Louis Sullivan and engineer Dankmar Adler. landmark from ashes. Pilgrim has been rolling Thompson enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and The initial drawings were prepared by drafts- for 97 years and will keep on rolling. I salute was stationed in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam man Frank Lloyd Wright. Upon the passing of you. over his four-year military career. Reverend Watson, Reverend R.T. Schell and f Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1932, Mr. Assistant Pastor, Reverend C.L. Franklin car- Thompson began his career in public service ried on until the Pulpit Committee found what CONGRATULATING SUNNYSIDE in 1960 at the U.S. Department of Labor. they considered to be the right man who could LITTLE LEAGUE GIRLS SOFT- While there, he worked on a task force dedi- handle the continued growth and expansion of BALL TEAM cated to helping veterans find jobs. In 1974, the Church. That man was masterful, the Rev- Mr. Thompson was assigned to work in Den- erend Junius Caesar Austin, a nationally HON. RAU´ L M. GRIJALVA ver and has called the Centennial State home known pulpiteer pastor, financier, organizer OF ARIZONA ever since. Mr. Thompson served under mul- and Convention President. He liquidated the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tiple Governors of Colorado over the course of debt, renovated the structure and bought a thirty years as a top advisor on veterans’ Tuesday, September 10, 2013 house for the church’s founder, built a commu- health and employment issues. As a member nity center, gymnasium and housing project Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to of the VFW for nearly fifty years, Mr. Thomp- and established missions in Africa. Congratulate Tucson’s Sunnyside Little son played key roles in the establishment of In 1931, Thomas A. Dorsey known as the League girls’ softball team on winning the 12– numerous veterans’ homes in Colorado, the ‘‘father of Gospel Music’’ joined Pilgrim and or- and-under Little League World Series. funding of the Western Slope Military Ceme- ganized the Pilgrim Baptist Church Gospel On August 14, 2013, the Sunnyside Little tery, and the long-awaited construction of the Chorus at the request of Pastor Austin. Some League became the 2013 Little League Soft- new veterans’ hospital in Denver. of the members of that chorus were legendary ball World Series champions by defeating the Mr. Thompson’s commitment to veterans singers such as Mahalia Jackson, Sally Mar- McLean Little League (Virginia) team 9–0. extended beyond his work in government. In tin, Roberta Martin and Clara Ward. This victory marks the first West Coast team 1972, Mr. Thompson co-founded the United During Pilgrim’s ninety-six year history nine to win the Little League Softball World Series Veterans Committee, a non-profit coalition of Pastors have served: in more than 23 years. veteran service organization which advocates Jessie D. Luck—January 1917–July 1917 These extraordinary young ladies finished for veterans and their families in Colorado. J.E. Jones—July 1917–October 1919 the Little League World Series with a 5–1 From 1980–1990, Mr. Thompson served on Samuel E.J. Watson—May 1920–July 1925 record and became the first team in Arizona to the Colorado Board of Veterans’ Affairs and Junius C. Austin, Sr.—January 1926–August win a title in this division and only the third to from 1986–1990, he was its Chairman. He has 1968 win it all in any softball division. also served on the board of the Fitzsimmons Junius C. Austin, Jr.—February 1969–De- In the championship game, the girls from State Veterans Nursing home since its open- cember 1991 Sunnyside put on a show in front of a crowd ing. VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:13 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A10SE8.005 E10SEPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS.