[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 83 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    REV. MOSES GENERAL MILES, PUBLIC SERVICE ROLE MODEL, FRIEND OF 
                        STUDENTS, LOYAL FAMUAN.

                                 ______


                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 27, 1994

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a point of 
personal privilege, to honor a distinguished public servant from my 
home State of Florida, the Reverend Moses General Miles, who on July 8 
will retire as president of the Florida A&M University [FAMU] 
Foundation.
  Although Reverend Miles is a Floridian, through his work with and for 
the students at Florida A&M--he served as director of men's personnel, 
commandant, dean of men, mathematics instructor, director of public 
relations, director of student activities and dean of students--he has 
touched and influenced the lives of many throughout this Nation. A 1941 
Florida A&M graduate, Reverend Miles has long been recognized as a 
catalyst for change that has resulted in the overall improvement of the 
quality of life for young people, their organizations and activities. 
He was the students' greatest advocate and disciplinarian.
  A molder of men, Reverend Miles served as a role model for 
generations of FAMUANS from Charlie Manning to Bernard Hendricks to 
Charles Hobbs to the 1993 student government president, Roderick 
Stovall. Some 24 years after his retirement from the University, 
Reverend Miles continued to shape and mold the character of FAMU 
students. He took ordinary boys and girls and made strong women and 
men. He stressed duty, honor, courage, leadership, and service. He 
continues to be an immutable force whose exacting standards demand the 
best of all who come in contact with him.
  A stern disciplinarian, he could never hide his love for the students 
he taught and counseled. No student anywhere had a stronger, more vocal 
advocate than Reverend Miles.
  In times of crisis, FAMUANS everywhere have gained strength from his 
leadership and dogged determination. When some made omnious threats to 
merge FAMU, Reverend Miles made his now famous dictum:

       If anyone be he or she great or small, governor or 
     legislator, administrator or faculty, staff or student, 
     alumni, friend or foe, endeavor to do anything to keep FAMU 
     from moving upwardly and onwardly toward achieving true 
     greatness, let his or their right hand forget its cunning and 
     his or her tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth. For FAMU 
     must live on!

  For more than four decades, Reverend Miles has waged a constant war 
against ignorance, hunger and bigotry. He has fought for the 
underprivileged and founded a home for the sick and brought hope to 
those in despair.
  As President of the FAMU Foundation, Reverend Miles accepted the 
responsibility of helping the University build its endowment fund into 
one of the largest among the 107 historically black colleges.
  A true servant of God, Reverend Miles, pastor of the Philadelphia 
Primitive Baptist Church in Tallahassee, recently retired as president 
of the Florida State Primitive Baptist Convention, a post he held for 
three decades. He also funded the Miracle Hill Nursing Home and the 
Primitive Baptist Church Camp.
  Mr. Speaker, Reverend Miles is a public service role model, a beacon 
of light and hope, and a national treasure. Because he has lived a life 
of service to others our country is a better place to live.

                          ____________________