... he lived a life of service to mankind

EDWARD EUGENE STRONG was born July 28, 1914, in Texarkana, Texas. His family was devoutly religious and his father was a Baptist minister. At the age of 12 he moved with the family to Flint, Michigan, in quest of the greater promise of opportunity in the North. From Flint's Northern High School, where he was an honor student and member of the debating team, he moved on to Central YMCA College in Chicago. After graduating from Central in 1936, he pursued graduate studies in political science at Howard University in Washington, D. C.

During his college years Edward Strong became a leading figure in the growing youth movement. He first came to public notice as a powerful speaker and leader in the Baptist youth movement. In 1933 he was a prime mover in the organization of an International Negro Youth Conference in Chicago.

In 1936 the first National Negro Congress convened in Chicago and Edward Strong was elected executive secretary of the Youth Division. In 1937 he became executive secretary of the Southern Negro Youth Congress. From headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, and Birmingham, Alabama, he traveled extensively throughout the South and led that organization in campaigns for full citizenship rights during 1937-1940. He was also known to millions of youth, Negro and white, as a vice president and administrative secretary of the American Youth Congress. He led American youth to conferences in Europe, to Spain during the Spanish Civil War, and on a mission of solidarity to the youth of Cuba.

MRS. AUGUSTA STRONG & EDWARD STRONG

IN 1940 he returned to the National Negro Congress as organizational secretary, a post in which he served until he entered the army in 1941. During World War II, Ed Strong served in the India-Burma theatre of war. Upon receiving his honorable discharge in 1945 he resumed his work with the National Negro Congress, this time as executive secretary.

In 1949, Edward Strong assumed the post of chairman of the Communist Party of Eastern Pennsylvania. He became a member of the national Committee of the Communist Party and served that organization in various capacities until his death.

In 1938 Edward Strong married Augusta Victoria Jackson. Three daughters — Phillis, now 14; Denise, 10, and Alison, 7 — were born of their marriage.

EDWARD E. STRONG

July 28, 1914 – April 9, 1957

*In Memoriam*

"Man's dearest possession is life and it is given to him to live but once. He must live so as to feel no torturing regrets for years without purpose; so live as not to be seared by the shame of a cowardly and trivial past; so live that dying he can say 'all my life and all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world — the fight for the liberation of mankind.'"

Such was a fond quotation of a great architect of the new world in being and everywhere aborning. This noble standard of measure in all particulars was achieved by our beloved brother before whose bier we gather in reverent homage.

From early youth Edward Strong was the bearer of a glorious vision. He dreamed of one community of mankind wherein the greatest happiness of the whole of the people would be the ardent endeavor of every man individually. A con-fraternity of men and women wherein brothers and sisters would dwell in peace one with the other and partake in full measure of the abundance of man's creation and nature's bounty. And no one would be poor and no one would pain for want of healing balms; where prejudices would be unknown and the spring of life unclouded by the shadows of the threats of wars.

We honor the memory of a man who dearly loved his fellowman — above all those uncomforted masses of his own and other peoples most in want and heavily burdened by the inhumanity of the exploiters of the toilers and the oppressors of the despised and unfree.

Here was a modern Gideon among us, who lived his day as a warrior against the hosts of evil, against the enemies of Man. He gave life to whatever he touched, inspired those with whom he worked to be greater than themselves — to be as great as the cause of mankind.

Children he loved, and they loved him, sensing in him the guardian, the protector, the father that he was. For as he loved mankind, he hated its enemies and thrust his own life as a shield against those who would hurt our young, our future.

And so living among us, a man of our time, he embodied the future. His life was a bridge between our unfulfilled todays and our glorious tomorrows. This man honored us with his life and we are here today to honor him with our promise to strive to live as he did — for the freedom and joy of all men.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND ARE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION. CHECKS OR
MONEY ORDERS SHOULD BE MADE OUT AND ADDRESSED AS FOLLOWS:

Dr. Herbert Aptheker, as trustee
32 Ludlam Place
Brooklyn 25, N. Y.

or: Dr. W. Alphaeus Hunton, as trustee
100-23 93rd Avenue
Richmond Hill 18, N. Y.

Dear __________ :

In memory of a valiant American, Edward E. Strong, and for the education of his children:

☐ I enclose a check in the amount of $__________
☐ I pledge to contribute $__________ on or before __________

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