February 25, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E243 While with the Senate, Mr. ‘‘Woman of the Year’’ for the 16th Senate Dis- ports the goals and ideals of National African Morshed was responsible for the development trict by former State Senator , ‘‘Mar- American History Month, celebrates the con- and enactment of a wide range of transpor- tin Luther King, Jr. Award’’ and was recog- tributions that African Americans have made tation laws, policies and programs. He helped nized by the Fresno Unified School District for to the transportation and infrastructure of the guide the creation of the State’s principal being a leader in education for the children in United States, and urges the American people transportation institutions including the High the community. to join the House of Representatives in cele- Speed Rail Authority, the California Transpor- Mrs. Ethridge-Williams is married to Lonzell brating these vital contributions. H. Res. 1085 tation Commission and various local and re- Williams and together they raised three chil- is an important measure that pays tribute to gional commissions, transportation districts dren. They have five grandchildren and four African Americans’ crucial role in building our and other agencies. great-grandchildren. nation, innovating new technologies, and help- Educated at the University of Washington, Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend ing create long-lasting economic growth and Seattle, as a civil engineer, he received a and congratulate LaVera Ethridge-Williams prosperity. master’s degree in transportation engineering upon being honored with the ‘‘Trail Blazers I thank Chairman OBERSTAR for his leader- from the University of California, Berkeley. Award.’’ I invite my colleagues to join me in ship in bringing this bill to the floor. I would Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues wishing Mrs. Ethridge-Williams many years of also like to thank the author of this legislation, join me in honoring Mr. Mehdi Morshed for his continued success. Congresswoman CORRINE BROWN, for chron- efforts and dedication to the transportation f icling the crucial, and often overlooked con- tributions of African Americans to our nation’s systems in California. HONORING DR. HERBERT RHODES f growth and progress. Madam Speaker, African Americans have HONORING LAVERA ETHRIDGE- HON. LEE TERRY made significant and far-reaching contributions WILLIAMS OF NEBRASKA to our nation’s transportation systems and crit- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ical infrastructure. Thousands of African Amer- HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH Thursday, February 25, 2010 icans overcame racial discrimination, harsh OF CALIFORNIA Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, today I rise environmental conditions, and frequently phys- ical danger, to build critical portions of our na- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES during Black History Month to remember the tion’s highways, bridges, and transit systems. Thursday, February 25, 2010 important contributions African Americans have made to our nation. I want to especially Many African Americans founded aeronautics Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise honor the extraordinary people who continue schools that trained pilots who went on to today to commend and congratulate LaVera to help shape our community and our great serve in the military or fly commercial airliners. Ethridge-Williams upon being honored with the nation. I have the privilege of representing Further, African Americans were the source of ‘‘Trail Blazers Award’’ by the African American thousands of successful and talented African innovative designs that helped make our Museum in Fresno, California. Americans in the second congressional district transportation and infrastructure systems mod- Mrs. LaVera Ethridge-Williams was born in of Nebraska, and among those is a special in- ern, efficient, and safe. For example, Garrett Boley, Oklahoma in 1927 to John and Alberta dividual. I would like to pay tribute to Dr. Her- A. Morgan developed the traffic signal, which Ethridge. She was raised in Wewoke, Okla- bert Rhodes. has proven indispensible to our transportation homa where she received her early education. Dr. Rhodes has been a lifelong member of system. Elijah McCoy’s ‘‘lubricating cup’’ auto- As a child, she cared for her younger siblings the Omaha business community. He was fea- matically oiled steam engines, making the rail- while her parents worked. In 1945, Mrs. tured in a 1975 issue of Ebony Magazine, road system dramatically more efficient. Elbert Ethridge-Williams moved to Fresno, California which highlighted successful African Ameri- R. Robinson invented the electric railway trol- and attended Fresno City College and Cali- cans who were leading the way in business. ley, which was adopted by cities across the fornia State University, Fresno. During his 36-year tenure at AT&T, he served country. Humphrey Reynolds produced the In 1968, Mrs. Ethridge-Williams began the as a senior manager specializing in risk man- safety gate on bridges, a development that process of opening a child care center in West agement for worldwide commercial metals. He has made transportation significantly safer. Fresno. She recognized that a child care cen- is the founder and president of American Har- These are only a few examples of the vital ter would be a great asset to a community that vest Company, which was established in contributions of African Americans to transpor- was largely underserved. She faced many ad- 1979. He continues to be a role model for suc- tation and infrastructure in the United States. versities; including obtaining a bank loan and cess as a senior trader for AHT Capital Man- It is perhaps even less well known that dur- attending many hearings with the state board agement Hedge Fund. Dr. Rhodes is a mem- ing the Civil Rights Movement, countless Afri- for the Department of Health and Welfare. ber of the Copper Club and the American can Americans devoted themselves to tireless After four years of perseverance, Mrs. Copper Association. He also serves as sec- activism that led to the desegregation of our Ethridge-Williams was able to open her first retary for the St. Benedict the Moor Catholic nation’s transportation systems and improved private child care center. The center was de- Church, president of the men’s social club working conditions for transportation workers signed specifically for infants and licensed by Work in Progress, and is a member of the of all races across the country. These invalu- the California State Department of Social Wel- NAACP. He has been a member of the Ne- able efforts not only improved our roads, fare. braska Cattlemen Association since 2008 and bridges, and transit systems, but also led to Mrs. Ethridge-Williams quickly began work- now serves as the director of marketing and significant national progress in achieving racial ing on the goal of opening a chain of child commerce. He is the proud father of four chil- equality and reconciliation. It is entirely fitting care centers. She began designing the centers dren and two grandchildren. that we take this opportunity to honor African to be innovative and functional for the edu- Thank you Dr. Herbert Rhodes for your con- Americans’ contributions to our transportation cation of young children. These centers pro- tributions. Your work in our community has and infrastructure and appreciate the innumer- vided valuable early education, emphasizing made a difference many Nebraskans from all able benefits that these efforts yielded for our the importance of school, health, vaccinations, walks of life. nation. nutrition, as well as employment opportunities f Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1085. for the West Fresno residents. HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS Mrs. Ethridge-Williams’ love for her commu- OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE f nity and profession was evident throughout TRANSPORTATION AND INFRA- IN MEMORY OF FORMER her life. She is one of the founding members STRUCTURE OF THE UNITED PLEASANTON MAYOR BEN of the Sickle Cell Support Group through her STATES TARVER III membership with the Fresno Chapter of The Links, Inc. For her service, Mrs. Ethridge-Wil- SPEECH OF liams has been recognized and honored with HON. JERRY McNERNEY OF CALIFORNIA many awards; including being named the HON. OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘Outstanding Black Woman of the Year’’ by IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gamma Eta Chapter of the Iota Lambda Soci- Thursday, February 25, 2010 ety, ‘‘Minority Business Enterprise Award’’ by Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Mr. MCNERNEY. Madam Speaker, today the City of Fresno, ‘‘Portrait of Success Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise Congressman and I ask our col- Award’’ from the local NBC affiliate, KSEE 24, today in support of H. Res. 1085, which sup- leagues to join in honoring the life of Ben

VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:04 Feb 26, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A25FE8.017 E25FEPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REMARKS