110 HRES 80 IH: Commending Wilfred George Gooden for his
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-01-19
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden was the last of 3 sons born
to his parents on February 22, 1922, in Westmoreland, Jamaica;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden was brought up in a
Christian home, baptized at the Rollington Town Seventh-Day Adventist Church,
and never forgot his first love, Jesus;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden’s rich baritone voice could
be heard in praises as he called his family and all who entered his home to
worship;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden’s Christ-like
character was seen in his deeds and in the way he treated every person he
met;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden treated all persons with
respect, courtesy, and kindness, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender,
religion, political persuasion, title, or status;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden would often bring home 3 or
4 friends unannounced for weekends, all of whom would be warmly received by his
generous and compassionate mother;
Whereas in 1944, Wilfred George Gooden traveled to the
United States and settled in New York City;
Whereas in New York City, Wilfred George Gooden for many
years pursued and enjoyed a successful career in mechanical dentistry and to
this day many former clients praise and express appreciation for the quality
his service and workmanship;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden, always on the lookout for
new adventures and challenges, invested in a brownstone, which needed some
repairs, on West 142nd Street in New York City;
Whereas with much enthusiasm, Wilfred George Gooden used
his knowledge of plumbing (obtained as a result of his formal liberal arts
education) to make the repairs, thus launching a new career in the field of
housing rehabilitation;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden, recognizing the importance
of expanding one’s education, knowledge, and business acumen, enrolled at City
College of New York and earned a certificate in building engineering;
Whereas in 1961, Wilfred George Gooden organized a general
contracting company with the basic purpose of renovating existing
properties;
Whereas as the owner and builder of multiple dwellings,
Wilfred George Gooden renovated a group of old tenements into 2 and 3 bedroom,
modern, class A apartments;
Whereas in many areas of New York City, Wilfred George
Gooden revitalized entire neighborhoods, creating homes that gave and still
give each dweller a sense of renewed hope and dignity;
Whereas as a project manager, field superintendent, and
general contractor, Wilfred George Gooden renovated a 100-unit apartment
complex for the Maurel Realty Corporation and a 50-unit apartment complex for
the Almeric Realty Corporation;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden’s expertise was recognized
by New York Mayor David Dinkins, who appointed him to help improve the city’s
urban housing program;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden brought to this task his
knack for delivering quality housing in the most needy urban areas within
budget and on schedule;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden walked with kings and
presidents (including President Bill Clinton and former Jamaican Prime
Ministers Norman Manley, Michael Manley, Alexander Bustamante, Edward Seaga,
and P. J. Patterson), but he never lost the common touch;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden was as at ease and at home
in the company of State and local government officials, leaders of the clergy,
captains of industry and academia, as he was with customers, clients, students,
friends, neighbors, and family members;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden was asked to serve, and
served with distinction, on the Board of Directors of the Housing Board in New
York, the Foundation for International Self-Help (FISH) clinics in Jamaica, the
American Friends of Jamaica, the Concerned Committee for Christian Education,
and the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations
(NAJASO);
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden was honored as a
philanthropist by Message Magazine in 1996 for his community service and
humanitarianism;
Whereas Faith and Grant College in Huntsville, Alabama,
conferred on Wilfred George Gooden the degree of Doctor of Letters;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden shared his achievements by
helping others to succeed;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden helped innumerable Jamaicans
relocating to New York City to get jobs, many in his own construction
company;
Whereas when housing was needed, when food was required,
when winter came and clothes and heat were required to keep bodies warm,
Jamaicans relocating to New York City and others in the community knew to call
Wilfred George Gooden, whose charity was virtually unbounded;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden was deeply committed to the
Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Manhattan, where he served as
Missionary Volunteer Leader, Sabbath School teacher, Sabbath School
Superintendent, and Chairman of the Building Committee, where he did so much to
see that the physical plant of the church was maintained in a manner befitting
God’s people;
Whereas in 1980, Wilfred George Gooden established the
Concerned Committee for Christian Education to provide funds for the Christian
education of Jamaica’s children;
Whereas in 1980, Wilfred George Gooden also facilitated a
concert at the National Arena in Jamaica featuring the Cantata Choir from New
York;
Whereas the proceeds of the concert were used to refurbish
and restart the New Hope Preparatory School at the North Street Seventh-Day
Adventist Church;
Whereas the New Hope Preparatory School, which started
with one teacher and 2 students, today has grown to 197 students, 12 teachers,
and a staff of 5;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden, along with his wife Sybil
Gooden, provided scholarships for young people who would otherwise not have
been able to attend his alma mater, Northern Caribbean University (formerly
West Indies College), and personally assisted students from Jamaica, New York,
Alabama, and Kenya to attend college;
Whereas for 15 years, Wilfred George Gooden has arranged
for summer employment for many students from various Adventist colleges, thus
aiding their pursuit of higher and Christian education;
Whereas Jamaican students pursuing medicine, engineering,
dentistry, and other disciplines overseas were assured of tuition, housing, and
personal assistance because of the beneficence of Wilfred George Gooden, who
wanted to ensure that all Jamaican youth had a chance to succeed so they could
make a meaningful contribution to society;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden never lost affection for his
native Jamaica, was always ready to support Jamaica, and thought that young
people from Jamaica should know more about their heritage;
Whereas with the permission of the Jamaican government,
Wilfred George Gooden printed and distributed copies of the Jamaican
constitution to every high school student in Jamaica;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden brought notable Americans
(such as former New York Mayor David Dinkins and New York City Councilwoman Una
Clarke) to the campus of his alma mater, Northern Caribbean University, so that
more people could learn of the quality of the Jamaican educational system and
what his church and school were doing for the world;
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden lived by the following
philosophy and creed: To leave some simple mark behind, to keep his having
lived in mind, to be an honest generous foe, and to play any part even if the
honors did not fall on him;
Whereas for 57 years, the life of Wilfred George Gooden
was enriched and enlarged by the love, companionship, assistance, and
partnership of his wife, Sybil; and
Whereas Wilfred George Gooden passed away on January 6,
2007: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives commends
Wilfred George Gooden for his distinguished career of service, humanitarian
efforts, and philanthropy dedicated to assisting the people of Jamaica and the
United States.