February 28, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S893 Mr. President, in keeping with the the South and appearing at women’s TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR spirit and the vision of Dr. Carter G. suffrage gatherings. Due to bad health, CHARLES J. JOHNSON Woodson, I would like to pay tribute to Sojourner Truth returned to Battle ∑ Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I two courageous women, claimed by my Creek in 1875, and remained there until rise today to honor Command Sergeant home state of Michigan, who played her death in 1883. Sojourner Truth Major Charles J. Johnson of the U.S. significant roles in addressing Amer- spoke from her heart about the most Army Communication-Electronics ican injustice and inequality. These are troubling issues of her time. A testa- Command who is retiring from the two women of different times who ment to Truth’s convictions is that her United States Army after 30 years of would change the course of history. words continue to speak to us today. active duty. Sergeant Major Johnson is Mr. President, Sojourner Truth, who Mr. President, on May 4, 1999 legisla- an exceptional leader, a ‘‘soldier’s’’ sol- helped lead our country out of the dark tion was enacted which authorized the dier and has served this great country days of slavery, and Rosa Parks, whose President of the United States to with honor and dignity. He understands dignified leadership sparked the Mont- award the Congressional Gold Medal to soldiering, leadership and selfless serv- gomery Bus Boycott and the start of Rosa Parks. The Congressional Gold ice. He is known for his dedication and the Civil Rights movement are indeli- Medal was presented to Rosa Parks on integrity. He has tackled the tough bly echoed in the chronicle of not only June 15, 1999 during an elaborate cere- issues that our Army has faced the the history of this Nation, but are mony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. I passed few years while consistently fo- viewed with distinction and admiration was pleased to cosponsor this fitting cused on the proper care and concern throughout the world. tribute to Rosa Parks—the gentle war- for our soldiers and families. Through Sojourner Truth, though unable to rior who decided that she would no his hard work and efforts and the most read or write, was considered one of the longer tolerate the humiliation and de- significant contributions he has made most eloquent and noted spokespersons moralization of racial segregation on a our United States Army enters this new millennium as a strong, well- of her day on the inhumanity and im- bus. Her personal bravery and self-sac- trained, proud fighting force. This won- morality of slavery. She was a leader rifice are remembered with reverence derful American deserves a tremendous in the abolitionist movement, and a and respect by us all. ground breaking speaker on behalf of praise and thanks from a nation for equality for women. Michigan recently Forty four years ago in Montgomery, which he has given so much and loves. honored her with the dedication of the Alabama the modern civil rights move- Sergeant Major Johnson was born on Sojourner Truth Memorial Monument, ment began when Rosa Parks refused August 8, 1949. He was raised in Canton, which was unveiled in Battle Creek, to give up her seat and move to the Georgia, and entered the Army in April Michigan on September 25, 1999. I com- back of the bus. The strength and spir- 1970 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he mend Dr. Velma Laws-Clay who headed it of this courageous woman captured was trained in Basic Soldiering and the Monument Steering Committee the consciousness of not only the Basic Combat Skills. Upon the comple- and Sculptor Tina Allen for making American people but the entire world. tion of Basic Training he received ad- their dream, a true monument to So- My home state of Michigan proudly vanced individual training as a Com- munications Center Specialist at Fort journer Truth, a reality. claims Rosa Parks as one of our own. Gordon, Georgia. Throughout his ca- Mr. President, Sojourner Truth had Rosa Parks and her husband made the reer, Sergeant Major Johnson contin- an extraordinary life. She was born Isa- journey to Michigan in 1957. Unceasing ued his military education completing bella Baumfree in 1797, served as a threats on their lives and persistent numerous military schools but most slave under several different masters, harassment by phone prompted the notable: Defense Race Relations Insti- move to Detroit where Rosa Parks’s and was eventually freed in 1828 when tute, Advance Noncommissioned brother resided. New York state outlawed slavery. She Course, Organizational Effectiveness continued to live in New York and be- Rosa Parks’ arrest for violating the Staff Officers Course, First Sergeant came strongly involved in religion. In city’s segregation laws was the cata- Course and the United States Army 1843, Baumfree, in response to a com- lyst for the Montgomery bus boycott. Sergeants Major Academy. Sergeant mand from God, changed her name to Her stand on that December day in 1955 Major Johnson was also awarded a Sojourner Truth and dedicated her life was not an isolated incident but part of Bachelor of Science Degree from the to traveling and lecturing. She began a lifetime of struggle for equality and University of Maryland. her migration West in 1850, where she justice. For instance, twelve years ear- Sergeant Major Johnson’s initial as- shared the stage with other aboli- lier, in 1943, Rosa Parks had been ar- signment was with the Defense Com- tionist leaders such as Frederick Doug- rested for violating another one of the munications Agency Southwest Asia lass. city’s bus related segregation laws, Mainland Region (Vietnam). He was as- In 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered which required African Americans to signed to the Defense Communication her famous ‘‘Ain’t I a Woman?’’ speech pay their fares at the front of the bus Agency in Washington, DC, following at the Women’s Convention in Akron, then get off of the bus and re-board duty in Vietnam. Sergeant Major John- Ohio. In the speech, Truth attacked from the rear of the bus. The driver of son has served over 24 years overseas to both racism and sexism. Truth made that bus was the same driver with include six tours in Germany, one tour her case for equality in plain-spoken whom Rosa Parks would have her con- in Korea, and another combat tour in English when she said, frontation 12 years later. Southwest Asia. Sergeant Major Johnson has served Then that little man in black there, he The rest is history—the boycott says women can’t have as much rights as with distinction in every leadership po- which Rosa Parks began was the begin- men, cause Christ wasn’t a woman? Where sition from Team Chief to Command did your Christ come from? Where did your ning of an American revolution that Sergeant Major. He served as a First Christ come from? From God and a woman! elevated the status of African Ameri- Sergeant of B Company, 440th Signal Man had nothing to do with Him. cans nationwide and introduced to the Battalion (Darmstardt, Germany) and By the mid-1850s, Truth had settled world a young leader who would one as Command Sergeant Major of the in Battle Creek, Michigan. She contin- day have a national holiday declared in 44th Signal Battalion (Mannheim, Ger- ued to travel and speak out for equal- his honor, the Reverend Martin Luther many), 22d Signal Brigade (Corps) ity. During the Civil War, Truth trav- King Jr. (Darmstardt, Germany), U.S. Army eled throughout Michigan, gathering Mr. President, we have come a long Garrison, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, food and clothing for Negro volunteer way toward achieving justice and and the Command Sergeant Major of regiments. Truth’s travels during the equality for all. But we still have work the 1st Signal Brigade ‘‘Voice of the war eventually led her to a meeting to do. In the names of Rosa Parks, So- ROK’’ in Yongsan, Korea. Sergeant with President Abraham Lincoln in journer Truth, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Major Johnson also served as an in- 1864, at which she presented her ideas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and many structor at the Infantry Center and on assisting freed slaves. Truth re- others, let us rededicate ourselves to School at Fort Benning, Georgia and mained in Washington, D.C. for several continuing the struggle on Civil Rights on both the Equal Opportunity and Or- years, helping slaves who had fled from and to human rights.∑ ganizational Effectiveness Staffs at

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 03:29 Feb 29, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G28FE6.035 pfrm13 PsN: S28PT1 S894 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 28, 2000 Headquarters, V Corps in Frankfurt, market crises of recent years, they will lovely one and a hard-charger herself— Germany. be able to advise the next generation of across the mountains in Tennessee. Sergeant Major Johnson’s awards Missourians to continue the traditions Barbara Lyons was a registered nurse and decorations include the Legion of of family farming and agri-business. then. Now, years later, Barbara Lyons Merit, Bronze Star Medal (with oak The Herbsts can truly say ‘‘the best is Goodmon genuinely cares about people. leaf cluster), Meritorious Service yet to come.’’ She and Jim have three children and Medal (with fourth oak leaf cluster), It is my honor to wish David and Les- one grandchild. They complement each Army Commendation Medal (with oak lie continued success in agriculture. other; both stay busy but never so busy leaf cluster), Army Achievement They have set an inspiring example for that they cannot help each other in Medal, Good Conduct Medal (10 farmers across the nation, and indeed their myriad of projects. Awards), Military Outstanding Volun- in Missouri.∑ What I have stated is scarcely more teer Service Medal and numerous serv- f than a snapshot of a remarkable fam- ice and campaign medals for service in ily. Mr. A.J. Fletcher is long gone from JIM GOODMON—VISIONARY both Southeast and Southwest Asia. He the scene but I have a hunch that he is has also been awarded the German ∑ Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, back in looking down from a Cloud Nine some- Marksman Award and the Signal Corps the mid-1960s, I was enjoying life as one where, nodding his approval of the way Regimental Medal, the Silver Order of of the guys active in the management Jim and Barbara are doing things. Let me hurriedly add that Jim Mercury.∑ of a very successful television station Goodmon is president and owner of the f in my hometown of Raleigh. The com- pany, Capitol Broadcasting Company, Durham Bulls baseball team which NATIONAL YOUNG FARMER had been founded by a remarkable gen- plays its home games in its dandy new AWARD tleman, Mr. A.J. Fletcher, born in the stadium about 20 miles away in Dur- ∑ Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, it is mountains of Western North Carolina, ham—and then I will proceed to calling with great pleasure that I recognize son of a circuit-riding Baptist preacher attention to a profile about Jim and congratulate Mr. and Mrs. David whose ministry included hundreds of Goodmon published in the latest issue of the magazine, Region Focus. Herbst, on receiving the National mountain families who attended the The article, by Betty Joyce Nash, is Young Farmer Award from the Amer- many churches under the watchcare of entitled ‘‘James F. Goodmon, an indus- ican Farm Bureau Federation. From the Reverend Mr. Fletcher. try visionary and community cheer- their farm near Chaffee, Missouri, Those were hard scrabble times and leader defines the future.’’ Mr. Presi- David and Leslie Herbst have set an ex- by today’s standards, just about every- dent, I ask unanimous consent that body whom Reverend Fletcher’s min- ample to our nation’s agricultural in- this article be printed in the RECORD. dustry about productive farming, land istry served was poor. There being no objection, the mate- management, and environmental con- A.J. Fletcher had nonetheless begun rial was ordered to be printed in the servation. a lifetime love affair with the music of RECORD, as follows: The National Young Farmer Award is opera. So he headed east, to Raleigh PROFILE/JAMES F. GOODMON—AN INDUSTRY the highest award given for out- and Wake County; virtually penniless VISIONARY AND COMMUNITY CHEERLEADER standing achievements, and it is given he nonetheless studied law at night and DEFINES THE FUTURE only to one farmer each year. David in the process developed an instinctive Jim Goodmon was fighting fatigue and a and Leslie Herbst were selected from a knowledge of business and investment. cold. He had just flown back to Raleigh, field of nominees submitted by state In the years that followed, neither A.J. N.C., from Colorado where he helped pitch Farm Bureaus across the nation. It is Fletcher nor anyone else in his family the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle ever lived another hard-scrabble day. area as the site of the 2007 Pan American an honor for Missouri to have such Games. Goodmon played a key role in luring prominent examples of excellence in Mr. President, I developed a high re- the 1999 Special Olympics to the Triangle, so farming. spect and genuine friendship for and why not the Pan Am games? This prestigious award, presented to with Mr. Fletcher. What I have recited It wasn’t meant to be. San Antonio was David and Leslie, is accompanied by up to this point is intended to be a chosen instead of the Triangle. But that’s ir- some impressive prizes, including a 2000 lead-in to a magazine article about one relevant, Goodmon says, his spirit hardly Dodge Ram 4x4 truck and an Arctic Cat of Mr. Fletcher’s remarkable dampened by the loss, the jet lag, or sniffles. North Carolina, he says, showed initiative in all terrain vehicle. They also won reg- grandsons, James Fletcher Goodmon planning and promoting the future. istration to conferences that will give who today is president and CEO of Cap- ‘‘What’s important is that we were work- them an opportunity to share their itol Broadcasting Company. ing on something in 2007 and not for next successes and perspectives on farming I will get to the article in a moment, week,’’ says Goodmon, president and chief with other young farmers and ranch- Mr. President, but I am obliged to men- executive officer of Capitol Broadcasting Co. ers. tion my earliest impressions of Jim Inc. in Raleigh. Goodmon’s grandfather, A.J. Fletcher, started the company in 1939 to David and Leslie are continuing the Goodmon when he was in high school serve the community. Still a family-owned tradition of family farming in south- in Raleigh and worked every possible enterprise, Capitol is a rarity in the rapidly east Missouri. They are the fourth gen- minute of every day (and night) that he consolidating broadcast industry. eration of Herbsts to farm in the re- could manage at the television station So far, Goodmon has invested nearly $4 gion, and they have been particularly (WRAL–TV) which was to become the million to make Capitol’s WRAL the na- successful with a unique approach to flagship station-to-be of an expanded tion’s first television station to transmit tel- Capitol Broadcasting Company. evision signals digitally. These high-defini- environmental protection that will pre- tion transmissions provide flawless pictures serve their land and keep it fertile for I saw young Jim Goodmon frequently and ‘‘surround’’ sound. WRAL–HD, the ‘‘HD’’ future generations. back in those days (and nights) as he stands for high-definition, went on the air in When I look to Missouri, I do not see concentrated on learning everything 1996. Goodmon is still charged by the poten- a state defined only by its geography— possible about the mysteries of keeping tial he sees in this medium. ‘‘Not a day goes spanning from the Missouri River to a television station on the air. Many by that I’m not amazed that we can send pic- the Mississippi River. Nor do I simply times he was covered with grease, tures through the air,’’ he says. Capitol’s other holdings include minor define Missouri by its economic diver- many times he was bound to have been league baseball teams in Durham, N.C., and sity—a state leading in farming and in- tired, but Jim Goodmon was then, as Myrtle Beach, S.C., a satellite communica- dustry. I see the definition of Missouri he is today, a hard-charger. Grandpa tions firm, and office developments in down- as a place where Missourians, like the Fletcher was proud of Jim—and so was turn Durham. Herbsts, can work together to give the I. I sensed back then that Jim But Goodmon’s future includes a big role next generation more opportunity than Goodmon would one day be a leader in as community cheerleader. A sports fan, we have today. It is a state of ascend- television—as he certainly has turned Goodmon tirelessly cheers for the Triangle. He is also president of his family’s 50-year- ing opportunity. out to be. old philanthropic foundation—the A.J. Because of David and Leslie’s careful A few words about Jim Goodmon’s Fletcher Foundation—and is a chief pro- stewardship of their land, prudent family. After attending Duke Univer- moter of Gov. Jim Hunt’s Smart Start pro- planning, and perseverance through the sity, Jim Goodmon found a bride—a gram for preschool-aged children.

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