S3100 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 23, 2019 not place her at the firm because they After leaving public office to teach at April 15, 1917, for a small group of Afri- just were not going to hire a woman. Harvard in 1979, Soglin returned to can Americans, all of whom worked at Rather than feeling disheartened, Jus- Madison to practice law and was twice Fairbanks Morse. As their families tice Abrahamson informed the dean reelected to lead Wisconsin’s capital grew and the Great Migration contin- that she didn’t want to go to Indianap- city. In all, he served as Madison’s 51st, ued, the once small church quickly olis, so the slight was fine with her. 54th, and 57th mayor. During his sec- grew to a congregation of 100 by 1920. This type of discrimination was not ond stint as mayor, Soglin accom- On June 3, 1927, formal incorporation an anomaly. Justice Abrahamson was plished one of his crowning achieve- papers were filed with the Rock County denied jobs, clients, and even social ments, breaking through a 70-year de- Registrar. club memberships on the basis of her bate to build the Monona Terrace Con- The first church at the current loca- gender. Undaunted by this prejudice, vention Center that Frank Lloyd tion was built in 1924 for $5,500. The ed- Justice Abrahamson took a stand Wright designed for Madison’s Lake ifice of the present church was built in against gender inequality and refused Monona’s shoreline. He is also credited 1960 after the first building was de- to back down from those who stood in with invigorating Madison’s economy stroyed by fire in 1958. Today, Emman- the way of a woman’s path to success and rebuilding its declining downtown. uel Baptist church proudly offers wor- in the legal field. Her greatest legacy is Through his more than two decades ship and educational programs for its the trail she blazed for countless young of investment in infrastructure, the members and provides community out- women, who can see themselves in a arts, and recreation, Paul Soglin has reach programs through its Family courtroom or on a judicial bench be- helped build a welcoming and flour- Life Center. Two of its most successful cause of the barriers she fearlessly ishing city that appears often on lists endeavors, a food pantry and a free hot broke through. She will go down in his- of the Nation’s most livable cities. lunch program, began under the leader- tory as one of Wisconsin’s most influ- Throughout this growth, he has also ship of the late Rev. Dr. Floyd Prude, ential and powerful women, and she fought to ensure that Madison’s re- Jr., who served as senior pastor for 36 used every bit of that influence and sources and assets are available to all years, the longest in the church’s his- power in the pursuit of justice for all city residents, regardless of their eco- tory. Wisconsinites. nomic standing. Now, 102 years after its founding, Justice Abrahamson is a true Amer- In addition to Paul Soglin’s remark- Emmanuel Baptist Church provides a ican hero. From her incomparable ten- able public service, I feel fortunate to spiritual refuge for its 350 members ure on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to know him as a lifelong family friend. under the steady hand of Minister Rod- her efforts as a pioneer for gender From my earliest memories of Paul ney Hayes. It stands as a beacon of equality, Justice Abrahamson has lived teaching me how to throw a Frisbee to hope that has withstood the dev- a life devoted to service and justice for his generous moving reflections at my astating impacts of racism and perse- all. mother’s memorial service, Paul cution. Under the devoted guidance of f Soglin has provided me with encour- its spiritual leaders, may it continue to TRIBUTE TO PAUL SOGLIN agement and inspiration. be a shining asset to the community Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today As he begins his next chapter after 22 for the next 102 years. I wish to recognize the exceptional ca- years of service, he leaves with the f reer and legacy of Madison, WI’s long- knowledge that he has left an indelible mark on the city he loves and that his TRIBUTE TO THE ALEXANDER est serving Mayor, Paul Soglin. Mayor FAMILY Soglin spent his many years in office legacy will endure. Mr. ROMNEY. Mr. President, it is my as driving force behind Madison’s ex- f honor today to pay tribute to five na- traordinary economic success and high 102ND ANNIVERSARY OF tive Utahns who are brothers and vet- quality of life. EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH Paul Soglin was raised in the Hyde erans of World War II and Korea: Wil- Park neighborhood of Chicago, where Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today liam, Gail, George, Jack, and Bert he excelled academically at Highland I wish to recognize the 102nd anniver- Alexander. Park High School. He graduated with sary of Emmanuel Baptist Church in These five brothers answered the call honors from University of Wisconsin— Beloit, WI. Emmanuel Baptist Church to defend our freedom and the freedoms Madison in 1966 and from the UW-Madi- was established on April 15, 1917, and of others from foreign invaders. Nazi son Law School in 1972. has been a pillar of the community for Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Soglin gained national notoriety on the last 102 years. North Koreans believed it their right campus as an activist for social and po- The church was founded during the to attack and forcefully restrict the litical change. He frequently protested peak of the Great Northward Migra- freedoms of their neighbors, but these American military involvement in the tion, when more than 6 million African brothers recognized that our freedom Vietnam war and demonstrated against Americans migrated from the rural as American citizens is inextricably Dow Chemical Company for its role in South to the industrial cities of the linked to the freedom of our friends manufacturing napalm and Agent Or- North and Midwest. Many northern and allies. Remaining safely protected ange for use in Vietnam. Beaten by po- manufacturing plants sought African- in Northern Utah was not an option for lice during the protests, Soglin became American migrants from the South to the Alexander brothers; they answered a respected voice on campus. During help replace white workers fighting in the call to take up arms and defend this trying time in our Nation’s past, World War I. Beloit became a favored freedom’s cause. Soglin demonstrated his enduring com- destination for many migrants thanks One brother, SGT Gail Alexander, mitment to peace and civil rights. in part to a young African-American was killed in action exactly 75 years Soglin won election to the Madison named John McCord from Pontotoc, ago tomorrow, May 24, 1944, during the City Council in 1968, representing the MS, who helped the Fairbanks Morse Anzio campaign to retake Rome, Italy. city’s student wards. Four years later, manufacturing company in Beloit re- The Anzio campaign and then Oper- he accomplished one of the biggest up- cruit Black labor from the southern ation Neptune—or D-day, as it came to sets in Madison history by defeating town. be known—marked an important turn- two-term incumbent William Dyke, be- African Americans were eager to es- ing point in World War II, with the Al- coming the youngest mayor in the cape the Jim Crow laws of the South lies beginning to liberate and retake city’s history. During his first term as and seek an improved quality of life for German-occupied Europe, restoring mayor, he established Madison’s Civic their families. As they settled in an un- freedom to the French and Italians and Center to showcase the city’s growing familiar part of the country, they subsequently to the rest of Europe. arts scene. He made tremendous im- sought solace in their faith and estab- Prior to his death, Gail received a provements to the city’s public transit lished the Second Emmanuel Baptist Purple Heart and Silver Star citation system and transformed State Street Church, now Emmanuel Baptist for Gallantry when on February 4, 1944, into an iconic pedestrian mall, one of Church. The church held its first serv- after sustaining a gunshot injury to his Madison’s defining landmarks. ice at Kent Hall on State Street on hand, he singlehandedly took out a VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:37 May 24, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23MY6.051 S23MYPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with SENATE May 23, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3101 German machine gun position that had phens Memorial Hospital in Norway, our courage, honor, and hard work held up his entire company. Alone and ME, Dr. William Medd has helped to ethic. The cowboy way provides an eth- the his company under fire, Gail gradu- build that foundation in Oxford Coun- ical code for cowboys to live by. All ally ran 130 yards across the battle- ty. It is a pleasure to join his friends rodeo participants embody this cowboy field, machine guns kicking up dirt on and neighbors in thanking him for 45 way when competing in the arena, pro- both sides of him and artillery shells years of expert, dedicated, and compas- viding the world with a prime example falling all around. He made it to the sionate service. of the code all Wyomingites live by. machine gun position, knocking it out Healthcare is essential to the vital- Cody is nicknamed the Rodeo Capitol with grenades, allowing his company to ity, even the survival, of rural commu- of the World.