[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                CONGRESSMAN KILDEE HONORS AILENE BUTLER

                                 ______


                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 1994

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today before my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to pay tribute to an outstanding 
individual in my hometown of Flint, MI: Ms. Ailene Butler.
  Ailene Butler was born in Americus, GA, and moved to Flint as a 
child, She is a graduate of Flint Northern High School, Sienna Heights 
College, and obtained a degree in mortuary science from Wayne State 
University. As Flint's first female funeral director, she was also the 
first female to own and operate her own funeral home. She has been 
awarded the Annual Business Award from the Flint Club of the National 
Association of Negro Business and Professional Women as ``The Most 
Outstanding Woman of the Year.'' She has also received the Women of 
Wayne Headliner Award and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Woman of the Year 
Award. She has received recognition from the Governor of the State of 
Michigan, the Common Council of the City of Detroit, the Michigan 
Department of Education, Mott Community College, the International 
Institute, the Genesee Area Skill Center, as well as a special tribute 
from the Michigan House of Representatives.
  Ailene Butler has been a pioneer for the African-American community 
in Flint. She was the first and only African-American female elected to 
the Flint City Council. Elected to office in November 1973, Ailene was 
chairperson of the Social Programs Committee. Through her tireless 
efforts on this committee, she was able to obtain assistance for day 
care centers, the Opportunities Industrialization Center, and the Urban 
League On-The-Job Training Program, among others. She was in the 
forefront of the effort to combat drugs and crime, long before the 
current efforts were undertaken. She was appointed to the original 
Flint Mayor's Advisory Committee, which established the Flint Human 
Relations Commission. Ms. Butler also helped establish and was elected 
first chairperson of the Open Occupancy Committee, whose work made 
Flint the first city in the United States to pass a fair housing law by 
popular vote. She was founder and first chairperson of the National 
Black Woman's Political Leadership Caucus of the State of Michigan.
  Ailene Butler was Flint's first African-American Girl Scout leader 
and helped to integrate Camp Tyrone. She successfully intergrated the 
Flint Young Women's Christian Association. She was the first women 
elected as vice president and board member of the National Association 
for the Advancement of Colored People and assisted in the creation of 
the NAACP Credit Union, as well as serving as its flirt loan officer.
  Ms. Butler was also affiliated with many public service oriented 
organizations, such as the Flint Branch of Child and Family Services of 
Michigan, the Genesee County Funeral Director's Association, as well as 
many other fine organizations. There is no question that Ailene Butler 
has been one of the most inspirational leaders in Flint and an 
incredible imprint on its citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor and a pleasure to rise before my 
colleagues in this august House to pay tribute to a pioneer, Ailene 
Butler. Ailene Butler has served as an inspiration to me and to other 
elected officials in Michigan. She is truly unique and is deserving of 
all of the tributes that may come her way. I pay tribute to her and 
wish her continued success.

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