Date: 1999-02-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in celebration of Black History Month. This years proclamation from the President for Black History Month is "Celebrating AfricanAmerican Leadership Past and President." My hometown of Dallas and homestate of Texas are fortunate to have many prominent AfricanAmerican leaders of whom A1 would like to mention just a few. Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk is a prime example of a successful AfricanAmerican leader. He was born in Austin where he lived until graduating from the University of Texas School of Law. He later worked in Washington. DC for United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen in the early 1980s. Kirk returned to Dallas to work for the City Attorneys office. In 1994 he was appointed by Governor Ann Richards to be the Secretary of State. prior to his election as Dallas Mayor. As the elected leader of Dallas. Mayor Kirk has effortlessly promoted the citys economic opportunities helping make it one of the nations top business. tourist and convention centers in the country. Not only has Mayor Kirk been a strong leader in the public sector. he has also been a tremendous volunteer having been awarded in 1992 the Volunteer of the Year Award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Mayor Kirk has also been a strong proponent of celebrating the legacy of AfricanAmerican leadership Last year I worked with Mayor Kirk and the city of Dallas to secure a $14.000 grant from the Corporation For National Service. This grant allowed the city to incorporate youth service into its very successful annual Martin Luther King celebration. Another standout is singer Charley Pride. the first AfricanAmerican to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Through not a native Texan. he has made Dallas his home for the last 30 years. This threetime grammy award winner started his public career in the Negro American baseball league. He later went on to record such song hits as "Snakes Crawl at Night." "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" and "I Know One." Currently. Pride resides in Dallas. Texas. where he is part owner of Cecca Productions. Bessie Coleman. the first AfricanAmerican to fly an airplane. was born in Atlanta. Texas in 1892. An exhibition flyer. Bessie earned her nickname "Queen Bess" as she appeared at air shows across the nation performing daring aerial acts with her plane. Rejected from American aviation schools. Coleman went to France to learn to fly where she became the first AfricanAmerican female to earn an international pilots license. Madam Speaker. Texas is proud to have many other AfricanAmerican leaders who have helped make Texas and especially Dallas world class. Many I have mentioned here before. the late Joseph Lockridge. A. Maceo Smith. George Allen Sr.. Dr. Napoleon Lewis. Mrs. Juanita Craft. Clarence Laws. Roosevelt Johnson. the Rev. S.M. Wright and so many others. Without the determination. courage and talent of these individuals many AfricanAmerican would not be able to achieve their dreams today. I salute the AfricanAmerican leaders of our past and look forward to the success of the leaders of our future. This is not to overlook a long string of African Americans who helped to make Texas and especially Dallas world class.