[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 527 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 527

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom should be awarded to Dr. Benjamin Elijah 
                                 Mays.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 21, 1994

Mr. Lewis of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Hilliard, 
Mr. Owens, and Ms. McKinney) submitted the following resolution; which 
     was referred to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom should be awarded to Dr. Benjamin Elijah 
                                 Mays.

Whereas Benjamin Elijah Mays, throughout his distinguished career of more than 
        half a century as an educator, civil and human rights nonviolent leader, 
        and public theologian, has inspired people of all races throughout the 
        world by his persistent commitment to excellence;
Whereas Benjamin Elijah 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 as 
        President of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, for 27 years, 
        Benjamin Elijah Mays overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to 
        offer quality education to all Americans, 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 
        in the development of future generations of African American leaders;
Whereas, as a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr., Benjamin Mays has been called 
        the ``schoolmaster of the civil rights movement'';
Whereas Benjamin Mays was instrumental in the elimination of segregated public 
        facilities in the United States, and promoted the cause of nonviolence 
        through peaceful protests during a time in this Nation that was often 
        marred by racial violence;
Whereas Benjamin Mays has been the recipient of numerous accolades throughout 
        his career, including 56 honorary degrees from universities across the 
        Nation and abroad and the naming of 7 American schools and academic 
        buildings and a street in his honor; and
Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the 
        Nation, was established in 1945 to appropriately recognize Americans who 
        have made an especially meritorious contribution to the security or 
        national interests of the United States, world peace, or 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 Benjamin Elijah Mays the Presidential Medal 
of Freedom posthumously in honor of his distinguished career as an 
educator, civil and human rights nonviolent leader, and public 
theologian and his many contributions to the improvement of American 
society and the world.
                                 <all>