E62 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 1, 2006 Fayard kept their legend alive by giving lec- Norman J. Pera was born in Gary, Indiana, money in the operations of the culinary depart- tures and demonstrations until 2004, when he where he graduated from Horace Mann High ments, throughout the United States Armed suffered a stroke. School in 1939. He served honorably from Forces. Not only is the Nicholas Brother’s dance 1942 to 1946 in the U.S. Navy, including ac- The Clark County School District will greatly skill to be admired and remembered but so is tive duty in the Pacific Theater during Word miss Mr. Doram, who during his years as a their spirit. With each advancement in their ca- War II. teacher was an outstanding educator who reer, they overcame racial discrimination, Upon completing military service, he at- deeply cared about the youth of Nevada. Yet proving that even ignorance cannot dampen tended the Rose Hulman Institute of Tech- his legacy of service to the community will be one’s skills and drive. The Nicholas Brothers nology in Terre Haute, Indiana, and graduated seen for generations to come. stand as a testament and an example to all by in 1948 with a degree in Mechanical Engineer- Mr. Speaker, it is an honor that I am able finding joy in following one’s passion. I join the ing. He worked for Inland Steel of East Chi- to recognize Tyronne E. Doram today, on the NAACP in remembering Fayard Nicholas. cago, Indiana, and retired in 1982 as the As- floor of the House in front of my colleagues. NAACP MOURNS THE LOSS OF LEGENDARY sistant Superintendent of the Mechanical De- I commend Mr. Doram for his fine example TAP DANCER FAYARD NICHOLAS partment. Mr. Pera moved to Saugatuck in and exemplary service to the State of Nevada. NICHOLAS BROTHERS DUO INSPIRED DANCERS 1989 and became an active volunteer for SUCH AS FRED ASTAIRE, GREGORY HINES AND many local organizations, giving generously of SAVION GLOVER f his time and his many talents. The National Association for the Advance- He is survived by his wife Patricia, the great ment of Colored People (NAACP) mourns the UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF loss of Fayard Nicholas, the elder half of the love of his life for 57 years, their 5 outstanding COLUMBIA GRADUATE PRO- tap-dancing duo the Nicholas Brothers, who sons, David, Timothy, Mark, Thomas, and GRAMS ACT died Tuesday in Los Angeles after suffering John; his daughters-in-law Ruth, Kathleen, from pneumonia. Leslie and Catherine; his nephew and niece Bruce S. Gordon, NAACP President and Anthony and Mary Ester Merza, and his 11 HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON CEO, said ‘‘Both of the Nicholas Brothers beautiful grandchildren. OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA will be greatly missed. They took their pas- Norman Pera was a principled and decent sion for the art of dance and turned raw tal- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ent into skill. Each performance by the man who loved his family, his faith, his com- Nicholas Brothers demonstrated the depth of munity and his country very deeply. Wednesday, February 1, 2006 their creativity and left audiences gasping at Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join their show-stopping presentation.’’ me in honoring the life of my dear cousin Nor- Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I intro- Fayard and his brother Harold overcame man and extend to his beloved family our duce the University of the District of Columbia racial boundaries when their vaudeville tap deepest sympathy. America has lost a mag- Graduate Programs Act that amends Section show headlined New York’s Cotton Club in nificent citizen. 326 of the Higher Education Act to provide 1932. From there the brothers went on to daz- federal Historically Black College and Univer- zle audiences on Broadway and Hollywood. f In 1934, the Nicholas Brothers were hired to sity (HBCU) grant funding to the qualified be in their first major musical titled, Kid PAYING TRIBUTE TO TYRONNE E. graduate programs at the University of the Millions, and appeared on Broadway in The DORAM, SR. FOR TWENTY-TWO District of Columbia. Zeigfield Follies of 1936. Despite the lack of YEARS OF TEACHING FOR THE The University of the District of Columbia, or formal training, the Nicholas brothers also CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DIS- UDC, is the District’s only public university and pioneered in the art of ballet and in 1937, TRICT they performed in Babes in Arms. institution of higher learning. An open admis- Throughout the 1940s, the Nicholas Broth- sion institution at the undergraduate level, the ers updated their style and performed in a HON. JON C. PORTER University has consistently and historically pro- series of musical films in Hollywood. Among OF NEVADA vided higher education opportunity to D.C. those films was Sun Valley Serenade (1941) IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES residents at low and affordable cost. The Uni- with performances with Dorothy Dandridge, versity justifiably prides itself on its vital role in whom Harold later married and divorced. In Wednesday, February 1, 2006 educating the leaders of the next generation 1948, the pair performed a memorable routine Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to with Gene Kelly in Be a Clown. by producing theoretically sound and prac- After a series of international tours, night- honor Mr. Tyronne E. Doram, Sr., who retired tically skilled graduates, ready to undertake club and television performances, the broth- on January 20, 2006, after twenty-two years of careers in service in both the public and pri- ers’ schedule remained tight. In 1970, Fayard teaching in the Clark County School District. vate sectors. captured the leading role in The Liberation Mr. Doram has been a role model, mentor, UDC also is one of the Nation’s oldest of L.B. Jones and in 1989 won a Tony Award and constant example of what is good in edu- HBCUs, but the university did not receive fed- for his choreography of the Broadway revue cation. In 1994, he was honored as Kiwanis eral funding as an HBCU until 1999, when Black and Blue, featuring child tap star Teacher of the Year, and when many people Savion Glover. Congress passed the District of Columbia Col- are winding down their careers, Mr. Doram In 1991, the Nicholas Brothers received the lege Access Act that my good friend, Govern- was instrumental in expanding the Culinary Kennedy Center Honors and were honored at ment Reform Committee Chair TOM DAVIS, Arts program at the Area Technical Trade the Academy Awards. Harold passed away in and I sponsored to establish the D.C. Tuition 2000 from heart failure, but Fayard contin- Center (ATTC), in North Las Vegas. His senior Assistance Grant program. ued to give lectures and demonstrations students have had the opportunity to complete until suffering a stroke in November 2004. internships in various hotel culinary depart- Funding from the Historically Black Grad- Fayard Nicholas was 91. ments both on and off the Las Vegas Strip. uate Institutions (HBGIs) program will allow Founded in 1909, the National Association Many of his graduates have secured positions UDC to increase its production of skilled grad- for the Advancement of Colored People is the uates in vital disciplines and jobs in which Afri- nation’s oldest and largest civil rights orga- in the industry immediately after graduation nization. It’s adult and youth members while other students have continued their edu- can Americans, Hispanics and others are throughout the United States and the world cation in postsecondary institutions. Mr. underrepresented and to strengthen its grad- are the premier advocates for civil rights in Doram and his students were recognized by uate programs in occupations where there are their communities and monitor equal oppor- President Clinton for their contributions to the shortages in our region. For example, the Uni- tunity in the public and private sectors. 1995 White House Christmas celebration. versity has graduate degree programs in can- f Graduates from the 2004 and 2005 ATTC cul- cer biology prevention and control, early child- hood education, mathematics, special edu- TRIBUTE TO NORMAN J. PERA inary arts program have received over $90,000 in scholarships, due mainly to Mr. cation, and speech and language pathology, Doram’s fine teaching. and other graduate programs in the College of HON. ANNA G. ESHOO Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. Doram Arts and Sciences, the David A. Clarke School OF CALIFORNIA served our country for twenty years in the of Law, and the School of Business and Public IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES United States Air Force. He retired as a Mas- Administration. A graduate curriculum is being Wednesday, February 1, 2006 ter Sergeant, with his most notable tours of developed in the School of Engineering and Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor duty being Vietnam and Thailand. Mr. Doram Applied Sciences. Norman J. Pera of Saugatuck, Michigan, who was honored by President Ford for his ideals I urge all of my colleagues to support this died on January 1, 2006, at the age of 83. and recommendations that saved the country bill.

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