[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 22 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT G. CLARK

                                 ______


                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 1994

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to pay 
tribute to Mr. Robert G. Clark of Holmes County, MS. Mr. Clark is an 
elected official, educator, farmer, businessman, and father. Mr. Clark 
is a graduate of Jackson State University, Michigan State University, 
and was a teaching fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government 
at Harvard University. On January 2, 1968, Mr. Clark became the first 
black State legislator in Mississippi since the Reconstruction era.
  Clark was 1 of the few candidates elected out of the 32 independent 
candidates sponsored by the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 
1967. Prior to Mr. Clark's election to the Mississippi House of 
Representatives, he was an educator. One of his initial reasons for 
running for office was the fact that a local literacy program was 
denied a work experience component by the local board of education. 
This new program had the potential of assisting 240 poor families in 
the area. He decided to run and change those laws that gave local 
authorities control over poverty programs.
  In 1977, Mr. Clark became the first black committee chairman in the 
House, where he served as chairman of the House Education Committee for 
10 years. True to his commitment to education, the Education Reform Act 
of 1982 was passed under Mr. Clark's leadership. One of the major 
accomplishments of this act was to mandate public kindergartens in 
every school system in the State.
  He was also the first black candidate to win a congressional primary 
in Mississippi since Reconstruction. His Democratic primary victories 
in 1982 and 1984 helped lay the foundation for the election of the 
State's first black Congressman from Mississippi in the 20th century.
  Mr. Clark continues to make history in Mississippi. In 1992, he 
became the first black speaker pro tempore of the Mississippi House of 
Representatives. This elected position by peers is an acknowledgment of 
the significant political and social contributions made by this quiet, 
genteel warrior.

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