IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 326 
Honoring the life of Dr. Ronald W. Walters and commending his life as 
an example to future generations of the people of the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 
Mr. TIAHRT (for himself and Ms. LEE of California) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life of Dr. Ronald W. Walters and commending 
his life as an example to future generations of the people 
of the United States. 
Whereas Dr. Walters was born on July 20, 1938, in Wichita, 
Kansas, the eldest of 7 children born to Gilmar and Max-
ine Fray Walters; 
Whereas Dr. Walters received a Bachelor of Arts in History 
and Government from Fisk University in 1963, a Master 
of Arts in African Studies from American University in 
1966, and a Doctor of Philosophy in International Stud-
ies from American University in 1971; 
Whereas Dr. Walters was a lifelong scholar and activist on 
civil rights issues; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:26 Oct 04, 2010
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC326.IH
HC326
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
•HCON 326 IH 
Whereas in July 1958, while a student at Fisk University, 
Dr. Walters organized with his cousin, Carol Parks, a 3- 
week, silent sit-in at the Dockum Drug Store in Wichita, 
Kansas, to protest the segregated lunch counters at the 
Dockum Drug Store; 
Whereas during the sit-in at the Dockum Drug Store, Dr. 
Walters, Carol Parks, and the other sit-in participants 
were taunted for their activism, which inspired others to 
join the protest and contributed to the eventual success 
of the sit-in; 
Whereas as a result of the sit-in, the owner of the Dockum 
Drug Store eliminated the segregated lunch counters; 
Whereas the success of the sit-in at the Dockum Drug Store 
led Dr. Walters and his fellow protestors to organize sit- 
ins at other segregated restaurants in Wichita, Kansas, 
which inspired others to organize sit-ins throughout the 
United States as acts of civil disobedience during the civil 
rights movement; 
Whereas Dr. Walters was an Assistant Professor of Political 
Science at Syracuse University from 1968 through 1969; 
Whereas Dr. Walters served as chair of the Afro-American 
Studies department at Brandeis University from 1969 
through 1971; 
Whereas Dr. Walters left Brandeis University for Howard 
University in 1971, where Dr. Walters taught for 25 
years, serving as chair of the Political Science depart-
ment from 1990 to 1996; 
Whereas throughout his time at Howard University, Dr. Wal-
ters continued to work as an activist for civil rights poli-
cies; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:26 Oct 04, 2010
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC326.IH
HC326
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
•HCON 326 IH 
Whereas Dr. Walters served as a top advisor for Congress-
man Charles Diggs, the first Chairman of the Congres-
sional Black Caucus, and helped Congressman Diggs con-
ceptualize the strategic vision of the Congressional Black 
Caucus; 
Whereas Dr. Walters served on the staff of Congressman 
William Gray, III, in 1979; 
Whereas Dr. Walters served as the Deputy Campaign Man-
ager for the 1984 Presidential campaign of the Reverend 
Jesse Jackson and as the Conventions Operations Con-
sultant for the 1988 Presidential campaign of the Rev-
erend Jesse Jackson; 
Whereas Dr. Walters authored many political articles and 
books, and over the course of his academic career, re-
ceived the Ralph Bunche Award for Black Presidential 
Politics in America from the American Political Science 
Association and the Best Book Award for Black Presi-
dential Politics in America from the National Conference 
of Black Political Scientists; 
Whereas Dr. Walters was a Professor of Government and 
Politics at the University of Maryland College Park from 
1996 through 2009; 
Whereas throughout his life, Dr. Walters was an active mem-
ber of many national organizations, including the Kappa 
Alpha Psi fraternity, the Omicron Delta Kappa frater-
nity, and the Pi Sigma Alpha fraternity; 
Whereas Dr. Walters founded 2 national organizations, the 
National Congress of Black Faculty and the National 
Black Independent Political Party; 
Whereas Dr. Walters was an active member of many profes-
sional associations, including the African Heritage Stud-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:26 Oct 04, 2010
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC326.IH
HC326
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
•HCON 326 IH 
ies Association, the American Political Science Associa-
tion, the Association of Black Sociologists, the National 
Black Leadership Roundtable, the National Conference of 
Black Political Scientists, the Ralph Bunche Institute, 
the Social Science Research Council, and the Southern 
Christian Leadership Conference; 
Whereas Dr. Walters participated in several important re-
search studies including the National Black Election 
Study carried out from 1984 through 1985 with the In-
stitute for Social and Political Research at the University 
of Michigan, the 1971 through 1973 Advisory Board Re-
search Program, and the 1974 through 1979 Public Pol-
icy Fellows Program carried out at the Joint Center for 
Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC; 
Whereas Dr. Walters received many university faculty honors, 
including the 1982 Distinguished Faculty Award from 
Howard University, the 1992 Distinguished Alumnus 
Award from Fisk University, the 2000 School of Inter-
national Service Alumnus of the Year award from Amer-
ican University, and the Distinguished Faculty Award 
from the University of Maryland College Park; 
Whereas Dr. Walters received many academic awards, includ-
ing the 1963 Reader’s Digest Writing Award, the 1984 
Distinguished Scholar/Activist Award from The Black 
Scholar Magazine, the 1985 Ida Wells Barnett Award 
from the Association of Black School Educators, and an 
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Fisk Uni-
versity in 2010; 
Whereas Dr. Walters received several national service awards, 
including the 1st annual Distinguished Service Award 
from the Wichita Black Historical Society in 1987 and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
22:26 Oct 04, 2010
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC326.IH
HC326
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS