12730 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS May 18, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS A TRIBUTE TO CHARLES V. Forbes said the Texas-born Carr was a pendence and pleasures of card games, Carr CARR father figure to him and fought to open the later said. political system to blacks. His particular "Grandmother did not hold with cards. talent was that he knew how to parlay a mi­ She was a devout Baptist. Every time she HON. LOUIS STOKES nority on an issue into a majority, Forbes went to church, grandfather would get the OF OHIO said. cards out. He taught me cards, but most of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES "He understood the art of politics," all, he taught me to work for myself instead Forbes said. "He always knew how to count of working for someone else." Monday, May 18, 1987 votes." Carr recognized the importance of That beloved grandfather, who worked for Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, recently the 21st credibility, and never broke his word, said the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, was sent to Congressional District of Ohio, which I repre­ Forbes. Cleveland on his job. He persuaded Carr's sent, and our Nation lost a great humanitarian Carr was at RTA for 10 years and had parents to send him here because he be­ and countryman. been chairman of the board's finance com­ lieved the schools were better than those in mittee, an office he held for many years on Texas. Charles V. Carr, who distinguished himself City Council. He served on council from Carr went to the ninth grade at East as an attorney, politician, and civil rights advo­ 1945 to 1975. Technical High School and moved to cate passed away on April 30 at age 82. He was considered by some the most pow­ Kansas City when his grandfather was Charlie Carr was an extraordinary politician erful figure on the 10-member RTA board, transferred there. and lawyer. Many years ago when I first exerting his influence mostly behind the Carr received a bachelor's degree from scenes. In recent years, he had delayed the Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. He became an attorney, he was one of the two federal efforts to get RTA to reform spend­ planned to study medicine at Howard Uni­ older black lawyers in Cleveland who provided ing practices. versity. On his way to Washington from a an opportunity for young black lawyers to He orchestrated the promotion of John V. visit in Kansas City, he stopped in Cleve­ practice by joining their firm. The situation at Terango to RTA general manager over the land. He ran into some former classmates at that time was such that high level law firms objections of Mayor George V. Voinovich East Tech who were attending John Mar­ did not often take blacks into their companies. and other elected officials. Carr was the shall Law School. Since many black lawyers could not afford to leader of the "Old Guard" on the board, They persuaded Carr to join them. He had set up their own practice, they were unable to which has battled with so-called reform $100 and got a job as a waiter at the Cleve­ pursue their chosen profession. Charlie and members over RTA's direction. land Athletic Club. He worked his way Charles Carr Pl., a short street south of through law school waiting tables there and his counterpart, Norman S. Minor, gave many Kinsman Rd. near E. 73rd St., is named for at the Union Club. blacks a start on what turned out to be out­ him. He passed the bar and declared himself a standing careers. He was a teacher in the Carr was adroit at maneuvering controver­ Democrat. sense that he shared his political prowess and sial legislation to passage, and played key Carr once said in an interview that he was knowledge with young lawyers and aspiring roles in the passage of the city income tax up at 6 a.m. every day so he could get to politicians. He was one of the persons who in 1966 and the creation of the RTA in 1975. police headquarters and the criminal courts helped my brother, Carl, and I form the 21st He was a lawyer, and his counsel, profes­ "to see if I could catch me a client." He was Congressional District caucus political organi­ sional and fatherly, was sought by people at the bars and speak-easies until 3 in the morning politicking. zation. Over the years he provided me coun­ ranging from bankers to numbers figures to members of the clergy, in addition to the He received numerous civic honors and be­ sel and advice on political matters in the constituents he served as a councilman in longed to several professional societies and caucus. the ward surrounding E. 55th St. and Cen­ community organizations. His career is one that should be studied by tral Ave. His council career ended when he He was an astute businessman and found­ young blacks in order to pattern themselves was defeated by the late Lonnie Burton. er of Dunbar Life Insurance Co., which later after him and the many things he achieved for In 1948, Carr's home was bombed and, be­ merged with Supreme Life Insurance Co. of America. He founded the first black-owned the black community. cause in his first term on council he sought to repeal an ordinance banning possession savings and loan here, Quincy Savings & Mr. Speaker, Charlie Carr was a friend and of numbers slips, he was rumored to be con­ Loan Co., and was president from 1960 until a person whose friendship I will always appre­ nected with the racketeering. 1976. ciate. He will always be remembered for the Carr had told a reporter, "I don't know His wife, Hortense, survives. Also surviv­ great contributions he made in political, busi­ why my home was bombed. I represented ing are daughters, Carole J. Bush, Cathleen ness and civic arenas in Cleveland. Several men accused of numbers violations but I V. Willis and Leah P., son, Charles 0., step­ was just a lawyer doing my job. son, Michael K. King, and a sister. newspaper articles have been written captur­ "It's a lie, I never was in the racket. I rep­ Services will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday at ing the highlights of his career. I offer these resented guys accused of murder, too. Does Shiloh Baptist Church, 5500 Scovill Ave. articles for the RECORD so that colleagues that make me a felon?" can read them and join with me in extending He had been vice chairman of the Cuya­ CARR, COUNCIL DEAN, WAS FATHER-FIGURE TO our condolences to his family: hoga County Democratic Executive Com­ MANY mittee. CHARLES CARR DIES, RTA PowER, Ex­ Carr's influence was so strong he was in­ <By Margaret Williams> couNCILMAN vited to the White House to dine with a The life of the "Dean" came to an end at Charles V. Carr, a member of the board of fellow Texan, President Lyndon B. Johnson. Cleveland Clinic on April 30 at age 82. At­ the Regional Transit Authority, a City Carr pioneered civil rights legislation in torney Charles Velmon Carr had suffered a Council majority leader for 13 years and a 1948 mandating that amusement parks, heart attack in 1965. He underwent open Democratic power in city politics for several public dance halls and roller rinks be open heart surgery in 1970. After having been ad­ decades, died yesterday morning at Cleve­ to all races. That ordinance was passed after mitted to the hospital a month ago, he was land Clinic Hospital. He was 82. an attempt by the Congress on Racial the victim of a stroke. Carr had a heart attack in 1965 and open­ Equality to break the color barrier at Euclid He had been a father-figure to many out­ heart surgery in 1970. He was admitted to Beach dance hall and roller rink. standing men of Cleveland including George the hospital a month ago for a checkup, and Carr was born in Clarksville, Texas, where L. Forbes, president of Cleveland City Coun­ while there had a stroke. his parents, both schoolteachers, had to cil and Carl Stokes, judge of the Municipal Carr, mentor of Council President George travel into the country to work. Court of Cleveland. L. Forbes, D-9, and other black leaders, During the day, they left him with his Charles Carr had served on city council stayed in public life until about a month grandfather, a former slave freed in 1865 by for many years. He had also served as a ago. Until then, he attended weekly RTA Union troops in South Carolina. Carr's member of the Board of RTA and chairman board or committee meetings. grandfather taught him pride of race, inde- of the finance committee. • This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. May 18, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 12731 "Charles Carr was always interested in It is said that "He dined with Kings and and you must take care of your family," progress of the 'Negro', as we were known at never lost the common touch." Forbes explained. that time. During the days of the Future His influence was so great that he was in­ "He was my friend, he was my counselor, Outlook League and John 0. Holly, Carr vited to the White House to dine with Presi­ my teacher, and he will be missed," he worked as a member of the board and was dents John F.