February 24, 2010 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 156, Pt. 2 1847 H.R. 3326 Thanks to Mr. Rippe’s commitment, the citi- Lyndon Baines Johnson. In 1968, Jimmy re- RDTE, N zens and visitors of Southwest Florida will turned home to , and opened up his C&C Technologies, Inc. 730 E Kaliste benefit from his lasting legacy of safe, mod- own public relations business, ‘‘James E. Saloom Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508 ernized roads for many years to come. Booker Associates’’ on 527 Madison Avenue Semi-Submersible UUV for Sensor En- Madam Speaker, it is a true honor to rep- in City. hancements $1,400,000. The ideal vehicle for resent dedicated public servants like Mr. Jimmy leaves behind a great written legacy providing risk reduction for technology and op- Rippe in Congress. of stories, history, adventure, and legendary erations is the unmanned semi-submersible f achievements that will continue to uplift all of vehicle. Rather than requiring costly and com- our African American families to the highest plex acoustic navigation and telemetry sys- CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF HAR- levels of advancements. Jimmy story includes tems, semi-submersible unmanned vehicles LEM’S BELOVED JAMES E. BOOK- some of the most important historic episodes may be integrated with standard GPS and ER, SR. FONDLY KNOWN AS THE of the 20th century. When Fidel Castro arrived radio communication systems. This project DEAN OF BLACK JOURNALISTS & in Harlem in 1960, Jimmy Booker was there, also supports NOAA’s Office of Ocean Explo- FORMER SPECIAL ADVISOR TO interviewing the young Cuban for one hour at ration. PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES the famed Theresa Hotel. Figures like Malcolm Congressman RODNEY ALEXANDER JOHNSON X, Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., Congressman H.R. 3326 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and National Urban RDTE, N HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL League founder, Whitney M. Young. QinetiQ-North America, 40201 Highway 190 OF NEW YORK Even the notorious Bumpy Johnson who East, Slidell, LA 70461 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ruled the streets of Harlem did not escape the Sonobuoy Wave Energy Module (SWEM) pen. Jimmy knew first hand how dangerous a Wednesday, February 24, 2010 $800,000. The Naval Air Systems Command man he was. ‘‘He put a gun to my head and (NAVAIR) is currently seeking alternatives to Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with told me he didn’t like what I had been writing,’’ batteries as long-term energy sources for long great pride, admiration and sadness as I pay Booker once told a group of friends one night life environmental and anti-submarine warfare tribute to my dear friend and life-long buddy, at the Theresa Hotel where he frequented, sonobuoys. SWEM technologies have near Brother James E. Booker, Sr., as we celebrate amusing listeners with many incredible tales. term application to NAVAIR’s Sensor for Envi- the passing of one of Harlem’s greatest Na- He covered us many times, , ronmental Assessment buoy project as well as tional Correspondents and Political/Community Basil Paterson and , the infa- to a wide range of evolving sonobuoy types News Columnists at Bethel African Methodist mous Gang of Four with those same remark- and classes. SWEM power modules enable Episcopal Church in Harlem. able attributes that made us so revered in his longer term, continuous operation of systems As I speak with profound honor and respect famous national and local weekly columns. He without battery replacement. for my friend Jimmy, I ascend to celebrate a served the cause of justice by covering the f life well-lived and to also remember the many biggest stories of the Civil Rights Movement, MICHAEL G. RIPPE journalistic professional accomplishments of giving the world insight on groups like the this remarkable man. Always dressed in his NAACP and the Black Panthers Party. HON. CONNIE MACK signature bowtie look, Jimmy Booker penned For years his column in the Amsterdam his name in history. He was the classic news- News was chocked full of tidbits and gossip OF FLORIDA paperman, a writer with a remarkable flare for about Harlem, the kind of ‘‘who shot John’’ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES accuracy, integrity and style. Jimmy’s col- stuff that never failed to keep readers’ atten- Wednesday, February 24, 2010 umns, ‘‘The Uptown Lowdown’’ and ‘‘Top tion. Later, during his tenure at the New York Mr. MACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to Drawer Stuff,’’ were informative, edgy and in- Beacon, he maintained his tireless contact honor Mr. Michael G. Rippe and the renaming sightful capturing unfolding stories about Har- with every facet of the community’s activities, of the Metro Parkway Extension in Fort Myers lem, Black New York. City Hall, Albany and roving from board meetings, to funerals, to ral- to the Michael G. Rippe Parkway. our Nation’s Capital. lies, to wherever the action was. Booker’s Col- Mr. Rippe earned a Bachelor of Science de- James E. Booker, Sr., was born in umns were published weekly in many inde- gree in Mining Engineering Technology from Riverhead, New York to Fletcher and Eliza- pendent and syndicated news and community the West Virginia Institute of Technology. He beth Booker on July 16th, 1926. He was publications including: ‘‘The Afro Times,’’ The joined the Florida Department of Transpor- reared, attended school, and worked on his fa- Daily Challenge,’’ ‘‘Big Red,’’ and ‘‘The Twi- tation in August 1989. From 2000–2004, he ther’s farm in Riverhead, New York. In 1948, light.’’ served as the Director of the Southwest Area Booker graduated from Howard University in Jimmy was also a very close advisor to Office. Throughout this time, Mr. Rippe was an Washington, DC, with a Bachelor’s in Arts in many politicos, activist and community organi- integral part in keeping Florida’s roads safe Journalism, and then moved to New York City zations, past and present, including Lloyd E. and efficient. to begin a career in Journalism working as a Dickens, ‘‘The Fox’’ J. Raymond Jones, Fred In 2004, Mr. Rippe was appointed Director reporter for the Amsterdam News in Harlem. E. Samuels, Professor Preston Wilcox, Dr. of Transportation Development for Florida De- In 1950, he served in the United States Army John Henrik Clarke, Edward Fordham, Inez E. partment of Transportation, District One. His during the Korean War. He later returned to Dickens, Keith L.T. Wright, C. Virginia Fields, work contributed to the development of many his job as a Journalist with the New York Am- Hazel N. Dukes, Dr. Annie B. Martin and the roads and bridges in Southwest Florida. Mr. sterdam News. NAACP to name just a few. Rippe’s contributions to the Department of Jimmy referred to his 16 years at the Am- Jimmy was also fond of Harlem’s Nightlife Transportation have been a huge asset for my sterdam News, where he eventually became where he covered many luminaries, enter- district and the entire state of Florida. Executive Editor, the most exciting of his jour- tainers and personalities like Count Basie, Throughout his career, Mr. Rippe had nalistic career. He traveled the country, inter- Billy Eckstine, Sammy Davis, Jr., Charles Honi worked closely on many major highway and facing with such notables as the Rev., Dr. Coles, Leroy Myers, Gregory Hines, Pop bridge projects. He assisted in resolving var- Martin Luther King Jr., Harlem Congressman Brown, George Benson, Nat Davis, Irene ious design and construction issues with local Adam Clayton Powell, National Urban League Reid, Jimmy ‘‘Preacher’’ Robins, Gloria Lynne, government and private citizens. His work on Director, and Whitney M. Young, all of whom Savion Glover and the Prince of Harlem, Lon- U.S. 41 projects accelerated job schedules he developed a first name relationship with. nie Youngblood, at the Theresa Hotel and and saved millions of taxpayer dollars. On December 22nd, 1956, he married the later at Harlem’s famous Showman’s Jazz I would like to recognize Mr. Rippe for his former Jeanne Carol Williams, in New York, Cafe´. Mr. Booker held court on a regular basis numerous contributions to the citizens of Lee and moved to the newly erected Lenox Ter- with his longtime friends Al Howard, Mona County, and I speak on behalf of all Floridians race, where he lived for the remainder of his Lopez, Diamond Lil Pierce, Tanya Alfonso, Ida when I say that we are proud of his accom- life. In 1964, the couple had a son, James E. Fernandez, and members of ‘‘The Showman’s plishments. I strongly support renaming the Booker Jr. (Reverend James E. Booker, Jr). In Elites’’ and ‘‘The Disciples.’’ Metro Extension Parkway in Lee County, Flor- 1966, Jimmy took his family to Washington, He will long be remembered for his extraor- ida to the Michael G. Rippe Parkway. DC, to work as Special Advisor to President dinary commitment, humor, liveliness, energy,

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