October 2, 2007 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 19 26279 throughout America, Gibson made history tress Phylicia Rashad (first to win a Tony vertising services to numerous political cam- once again—this time in magnificent fash- for best performance in a play), Essence paigns, voter initiatives, and labor unions. ion—by winning the 1956 to be- chairwoman Susan L. Taylor (first recipient Walt also wrote articles for the come the first Black to win a Grand Slam of the Henry Johnson Fisher award), and Weekly and was brought further into the event. The next year, she won Wimbledon businesswoman Sheila Crump Johnson (first public eye when he was hired to conduct bi- and the U.S. Championships, then success- to have a stake in three professional sports weekly ‘‘Point-Counterpoint’’ debates with fully defended both titles the following year. franchises). conservative activist John Carlson on KIRO- Gibson teamed with Angela Buxton, a Jewish ‘‘ dreamed the impossible TV News. player from Briton, to win the 1956 doubles and made it possible,’’ said Johnson, who But it was the history muse that inspired championships at the French and was a BET founder. ‘‘She was one of the first Walt’s greatest creative output. His intro- Wimbledon. Both women experienced dis- African-American women in sports to say, duction to historical research came when he crimination by their fellow players, but after ‘Why not me?’ She empowered generations was hired to write a history of the Rainier their triumph at the All- [of Black women] to believe in themselves, Club. He followed this with books about Se- club, a British newspaper touted: ‘‘Minori- emboldened us to achieve and attain the un- attle University, Metro Transit, and Group ties win.’’ attainable. Her drive, spirit and passion con- Health Cooperative, as well as 2 of his proud- All told, Gibson, the daughter of South tinue to set an example for us today.’’ est accomplishments, Rites of Passage: A Carolina sharecroppers, won five Grand Slam ‘‘I will always be grateful to her for having Memoir of the Sixties in Seattle and The Na- singles titles and six Grand Slam doubles the strength and the courage to triumph in tional Trust Guide: Seattle. crowns, but her impact on tennis—and soci- extreme adversity,’’ said , a In 1997, he and local historian Paul Dorpat, ety—cannot be measured in mere trophy six-time Grand Slam singles champion, who a dear friend and colleague from their days counts. She was a trailblazer of remarkable also participated in the tribute. ‘‘Her accom- together at the Helix, tossed around the idea heart and courage, marking a path for those plishments set the stage for my success, and of publishing an encyclopedia of King County who would follow her, carrying herself with through players like me, Serena and many history. A book of this size and scope had not that special grace and dignity known only to others to come, her legacy will live on.’’ been published since Clarence Bagley’s tome, true champions. written more than 70 years before. Worried f ‘‘Althea made tennis a better place, by that such a venture might prove to be too opening doors and opening minds,’’ said REMEMBRANCE OF WALT unwieldy, Walt’s wife, Marie, suggested that USTA president and chairman Jane Brown CROWLEY an online encyclopedia would be a more suit- Grimes. ‘‘For that, all of us owe Althea Gib- able way to keep and maintain the historical son a debt of gratitude.’’ record. Work soon began, and the rest is his- In recognition of Gibson’s myriad con- HON. JIM McDERMOTT tory . . . or shall we say, HistoryLink. tributions to the sport of tennis and to soci- OF MAKING HISTORY ety at large, the U.S. Tennis Association this IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES When HistoryLink launched in 1998, it was year hosted a very special tribute to the late the first encyclopedia of community history champion, who passed away in 2003 following Tuesday, October 2, 2007 created expressly for the Internet—an ac- a long illness. On an extraordinary evening Mr. MCDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, Seattle complishment that made Walt exceedingly of history and emotion, African-American recently lost a prominent and much loved cit- proud. But being the first meant blazing women who are pioneers in their own fields, trails where no historians had gone before, and the elite from the world of tennis, gath- izen, Walt Crowley. I would like to insert in the not only in designing and organizing the on- ered to honor and celebrate one of their own. RECORD a statement on his passing from line encyclopedia, but also in competing for Call her tennis’s own Jackie Robinson. HistoryLink, an impressive organization Walt funding in a dot-com world. Walt always re- The event, entitled ‘‘Breaking Barriers,’’ helped to found. ferred to our efforts as ‘‘venture socialism.’’ was held on the opening night, Aug. 27 of the REMEMBERING WALT Helped along by a hand-picked staff—many 2007 U.S. Open at the USTA of whom still write, edit, and contribute to Walt Crowley, visionary cofounder of National Tennis Center in Queens, NY. It the site—as well as by a topnotch board of HistoryLink.org, passed away on September commemorated the 50th anniversary of Gib- trustees, HistoryLink.org grew to become a 21, 2007. Looking back at the rich tapestry of son’s pioneering triumph at the 1957 U.S. Na- success, and in 2003 expanded its coverage his life and work, one sees that it would take tional Championships (now known as the statewide. Today it receives more than four an encyclopedia to document how much of U.S. Open), and also provided a stage for Gib- million hits a month. It is read by students, an effect he had upon the city of Seattle and son’s induction into the prestigious U.S. teachers, journalists, genealogists, history on the state of Washington. Fortunately— Open Court of Champions. But the evening buffs, and anybody who wants to know more and thanks to his efforts—we can do that proved to be so much more—an acknowledge- about the people and events that shaped here at HistoryLink.org, the Online Encyclo- ment of the over- sight of having never be- Washington’s growth and development. pedia of Washington State History. fore recognized Gibson as a barrier-breaking Besides penning some of HistoryLink’s Walt moved to Seattle at the age of 14, pioneer, and a unique first-time celebration books, Walt wrote a large number of essays when Boeing hired his father. Many of the of the historic firsts achieved by other and editorials on topics that appealed to his friends and colleagues who knew him the prominent African-American women. interests, including state politics, political longest probably met him during his days at Nearly two dozen Black women pioneers shifts, mayoral transitions, municipal own- the Helix, Seattle’s first underground news- attended the tribute, including Olympians ership, civil violence, Seattle’s neighbor- paper, for which Walt wrote, cartooned, edit- Jackie Joyner-Kersee (first Black to win hoods, streetcars, monorails, aviation, the ed, and even sold copies of out on the street. back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the Space Needle, and even flying saucers. With Whether it was at a social gathering, during Heptathlon) and Dr. Debi Thomas (first such a wealth of Walt’s words and knowledge a street march, on the campaign trail, or Black Winter Olympics medal winner), astro- and insight contained in our site, we here at even in the midst of riots, Walt touched the naut Dr. Mae Jemison (the first Black fe- HistoryLink.org take comfort in the fact lives of many people, and made numerous male astronaut), gospel singer Yolanda that as we continue to grow and expand our friendships that lasted for decades. Adams (first Black female to win the Con- content, we will never lose his voice—even Walt’s passion for civic activism led to a temporary/Inspirational Artist award at though we have lost a colleague, a mentor, career in city politics. During a sit-in pro- American Music Awards) and Ambassador and most of all, our friend. test at Seattle City Hall, Mayor Wes Uhlman Carol Moseley-Braun (first Black female U.S. was so impressed with the young man’s wit f Senator). and political savvy that he hired him. Over Billie Jean King, whose own pioneering ef- TAIWAN PLANE SALES the next few years, Walt worked in various forts on behalf of female athletes were cele- city departments, most notably as deputy di- brated at this venue last year, was part of rector of the Office of Policy and Planning, HON. SCOTT GARRETT the tribute, as was New York City Mayor Mi- where he often advocated for historic preser- OF NEW JERSEY chael Bloomberg and Rachel Robinson. Jack- vation. His love for Seattle grew, based on ie Robinson’s widow. Aretha Franklin, the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his awareness of its past. first Black woman inducted into the Rock & Tuesday, October 2, 2007 THE WRITE STUFF Roll Hall of Fame, performed at the tribute. Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Other trailblazing Black women attending His skills as a writer opened up new vistas were former poet laureate Nikki Giovanni in his career when he formed Crowley Associ- Speaker, despite recent aggressive behavior (the first Black woman to receive the Rosa ates Inc. along with Marie McCaffrey, whom from China, Taiwan’s democracy has contin- Parks Woman of Courage award), former he would later marry. The two collaborated ued to grow and flourish. I am pleased that Washington, D.C., mayor Sharon Pratt (first on books about the Seattle Aquarium and this House can come together today in sup- to be elected mayor of a major U.S. city), ac- Pioneer Square, and provided writing and ad- port of Taiwan.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 11:40 Jul 29, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR07\E02OC7.000 E02OC7 cprice-sewell on DSK89S0YB1PROD with BOUND RECORD 26280 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 19 October 2, 2007 China’s industrial buildup in the last decade ond U.S. civil war by sending 1,000 American ministration and is a visiting writer at Ar- has been unprecedented. While Chinese citi- soldiers into a Southern city. The troops, kansas State University; and Thelma zens have been taking advantage of their in- with bayonets at the end of their rifles, pro- Mothershed Wair, 66, became a teacher. vided protection for nine black students try- Part of their success comes from their abil- creased economic freedom, the Chinese gov- ing to get into Little Rock’s Central High ity to mix easily with black and white people ernment has been using this economic growth School. Until the soldiers arrived, the black and to comfortably join the social and pro- to build up their military and position new and teenagers had been kept out by mobs and the fessional networks that segregation kept dangerous weapons along the Taiwan Strait. Arkansas National Guard, in defiance of the from black people. In fact, most of the nine The Taiwanese request to purchase 66 F– Supreme Court’s 1954 ruling ending school worked in mostly white organizations. And 16 fighter planes will assist them in countering segregation. four of the nine married white people (three the growing threat of Chinese militarism. The black children involved became the black women married white men, and one These weapons will allow the Taiwanese to leading edge of a social experiment. Their black man married a white woman). In her book ‘‘Turn Away Thy Son,’’ Arkan- balance the threat of hundreds of Chinese lives offer answers to the question of what happens to black children who attend inte- sas native Elizabeth Jacoway notes that the fighters and bombers that are stationed just on grated schools, a question underscored by nine never take a group picture with white the other side of the Strait. the recent Supreme Court ruling that vol- spouses or mixed-race children. Jacoway be- We have always stood by our friends in Tai- untary school integration plans in Louisville lieves they don’t want to take away from wan and today we call on the President to en- and Seattle are unconstitutional. black pride in their achievement or reignite sure that that relationship stays as strong as The June decision said a focus on mixing segregationist fears about interracial sex. ever. This House supports protecting the free- students based on their skin color violates Terrence Roberts, who went on to become dom of the Taiwanese people. Today, Taiwan every student’s right to be judged as an indi- a psychology professor, thinks ‘‘fear of black people in the family’’ is still a driving force is proof that a nation can successfully move vidual without regard to race. The ruling confirmed a political reality: America long pulling Americans away from integrated from one-party rule to democracy and main- ago lost its appetite for doing whatever it schools. Ernest Green, whose first wife was tain its dynamic economy. I am hopeful that takes—busing, magnet schools, court or- white, calls it the ‘‘zipper issue. . . sex and Chinese citizens can one day experience the ders—to integrate schools. The level of seg- race are highly combustible.’’ same liberty as their counterparts in Taiwan. regation in U.S. public schools has been The interracial daughter of Minniejean Brown Trickey, Spirit Trickey, works as a f growing since 1988, reversing the trend to- ward integration triggered by Brown v. Park Service tour guide at a memorial to the WHY INTEGRATION MATTERS Board of Education. events at Central High. She says visitors reg- The movement away from school integra- ularly ask why so many of the nine broke tion is glaring. The Civil Rights Project the taboo against interracial marriage. HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL found in 2003 that the nation’s 27 biggest ‘‘My answer is that the Little Rock Nine OF NEW YORK school districts were ‘‘overwhelmingly’’ seg- followed the principles of nonviolence,’’ she IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES regated with black and Latino students. Na- said. ‘‘They married who they fell in love with. But it is telling that so many people Tuesday, October 2, 2007 tionwide today, almost half of black and Latino children are in schools where less ask about it. It tells me where we are Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today than 10 percent of the students are white. today.’’ to introduce 2 stories written in the Wash- Those essentially segregated schools have a ington Post on September 25, 2007 entitled, large percentage of low-income families and, [From the Washington Post, Sept. 25, 2007] ‘‘A Little Rock Reminder’’ and ‘‘The Legacy of according to researchers, ‘‘difficulty retain- THE LEGACY OF LITTLE ROCK: FIFTY YEARS AGO, HE AND 8 OTHERS BECAME THE FACES Little Rock’’, in recognition of the 50th anniver- ing highly qualified teachers.’’ Meanwhile, OF INTEGRATION. NOW HE ISASIGN OF ITS sary of the integration of the school system of the average white student attends a school that is 80 percent white and far more afflu- SUCCESS. Little Rock, AR, by a brave group of Black ent than the schools for minority students. (By Avis Thomas-Lester) children who came to be known as ‘‘The Little This trend toward isolation of poor and mi- Ernest G. Green Jr. sees much of the world Rock Nine’’. nority students has consequences—half of now from a top floor comer office on K Integration has been a long and difficult black and Latino students now drop out of Street, just blocks from the White House and process here in the United States. Only 50 high school. a very long way from where he started. years have passed since President Dwight Ei- Integrated schools benefit students, espe- His BlackBerry holds the phone numbers of senhower decided to send soldiers to protect cially minorities. Research on the long-term powerful men: former president Bill Clinton; and defend the newly acquired rights of nine outcomes of black and Latino students at- Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Enter- tending integrated schools indicates that Black students to go to a previously all White tainment Television and co-owner of the those students ‘‘complete more years of edu- Charlotte Bobcats; former ambassador An- school. Those brave Black students who en- cation, earn higher degrees and major in drew Young; and three candidates for presi- dured the difficulties of starting the process of more varied occupations than graduates of dent of the United States. desegregation in schools in 1957 should be all-black schools.’’ He spends his days negotiating multi- remembered and appreciated today, on the That conclusion is reflected in the lives of million-dollar deals as managing director of anniversary, and everyday. the Little Rock Nine, who represent the public finance for Wall Street stalwart Leh- It has been proven that integration is a key black middle class that grew rapidly as bet- man Brothers with clients including the City factor in the success of our society. A school ter schools became open to black people dur- of New York and the State of Connecticut. ing the 1960s and ’70s. where all races and nationalities work together He has a big house in Northwest Washington, Ernest Green, 65, who became the first ‘‘a beautiful wife, three wonderful kids’’ and is giving their students more than classes; black student to graduate from Central a lot of gratitude for the circumstances that they are teaching them the correct way to live, High, is the most prominent of the nine. He catapulted him from segregated Little Rock in harmony with the world. In addition it has earned a master’s degree in sociology and into U.S. history as one of nine students to been proven that an integrated learning envi- worked in the Carter and Clinton adminis- integrate Central High School 50 years ago ronment leads to greater academic success. trations. He is director of public finance in today. Our society today still has a long way to go Washington for Lehman Brothers. ‘‘It has been a tremendous boost for me,’’ but it is a much healthier one than 50 years Melba Pattillo Beals, 65, chairs the African said Green, who turned 66 on Saturday. ‘‘It ago. These children were brave enough to un- American history department at Dominican provided me with opportunities I never University in River Forest, IL, and wrote an would have otherwise had. I had a tremen- derstand what their parents and other leaders award-winning book about her experiences at dous window into the last half of 20th cen- of their community knew—that they deserve Central High; Elizabeth Eckford, 65, is a pro- tury.’’ the same rights as the next one; they too are bation officer in Arkansas; Gloria Ray Green returned to his home town this citizens of the United States and all it rep- Karlmark, 64, moved to Sweden to work for weekend for events commemorating the 50th resents. Their efforts need to be commended. IBM and later founded and edited the maga- anniversary of the desegregation of Central [From the Washington Post, Sept. 25, 2007] zine Computers in Industry; Carlotta Walls High. Five decades ago, Green and eight LaNier, 64, started a real estate company in other students were escorted into the school A LITTLE ROCK REMINDER: NINE PIONEERS Colorado; Terrence Roberts, 65, is a psychol- by the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division SHOWED WHY SCHOOL INTEGRATION MATTERS ogist in California; Jefferson Thomas, 64, under orders from President Dwight Eisen- (By Juan Williams) fought in Vietnam and worked in govern- hower after Gov. Orval Faubus used the Fifty years ago this week, President ment in Ohio for nearly 30 years; Minniejean state’s National Guard to block the integra- Dwight Eisenhower risked igniting the sec- Brown Trickey, 66, worked in the Clinton ad- tion effort.

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