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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 49 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 49

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
  should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Dr. 
    Benjamin Elijah Mays in honor of his distinguished career as an 
    educator, civil and human rights leader, and public theologian.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2001

  Mr. Lewis of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Isakson, and Ms. 
McKinney) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
  should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Dr. 
    Benjamin Elijah Mays in honor of his distinguished career as an 
    educator, civil and human rights leader, and public theologian.

Whereas Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, throughout his distinguished career of more 
        than half a century as an educator, civil and human rights leader, and 
        public theologian, inspired people of all races throughout the world by 
        his persistent commitment to excellence;
Whereas Benjamin Mays persevered, despite the frustrations inherent in 
        segregation, to begin an illustrious career in education;
Whereas as Dean of the School of Religion of Howard University and later for a 
        period of 27 years as President of Morehouse College in Atlanta, 
        Georgia, Benjamin Mays overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to 
        offer high quality education to all people of the United States, 
        especially African-Americans;
Whereas at the commencement of World War II, when most colleges suffered from a 
        lack of available students and the demise of Morehouse College appeared 
        imminent, Benjamin Mays prevented the college from permanently closing 
        its doors by vigorously recruiting potential students and thereby aiding 
        the development of future generations of African-American leaders;
Whereas Benjamin Mays was instrumental in the elimination of segregated public 
        facilities in Atlanta, Georgia, and promoted the cause of nonviolence 
        through peaceful student protests during a time in this Nation that was 
        often marred by racial violence;
Whereas Benjamin Mays received numerous accolades throughout his career, 
        including the naming of a street and of 7 schools and academic buildings 
        in his honor; and
Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the 
        Nation, was established in 1945 to appropriately recognize persons who 
        have made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or 
        national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural 
        or other significant public or private endeavors: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
posthumously to Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays in honor of his distinguished 
career as an educator, civil and human rights leader, and public 
theologian and his many contributions to the improvement of United 
States society and the world.
                                 <all>
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