[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 91 (Thursday, July 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                             EDDIE EDWARDS

 Mr. WOFFORD. Mr. President, I rise today to salute the hard 
work of Mr. Eddie Edwards who was recently honored by the western 
Pennsylvania N.A.A.C.P. branches for his contribution to the African-
American community and his work as one of the very few African-American 
television station owners.
  On Martin Luther King's birthday in 1991, Mr. Edwards became the 
first African-American to own a television station, WPTT-TV-Pittsburgh, 
in the top 20 broadcast markets in the United Stats. Having worked with 
Martin Luther King, I know he would have found this achievement 
appropriate. When Martin was assassinated, he was beginning to tackle 
in earnest the issues of economic empowerment and the opportunity to 
not just sit down at the table but to own it.
  Barely over forty, Eddie Edwards is one of the youngest owner-
operators in the broadcasting business and already is a ``veteran'' 
with 25 years of experience in the field.
  And, Mr. President, on top of all the professional success he has 
enjoyed, Mr. Edwards has still found time to be very active in the 
Pittsburgh community. He has worked to make a real difference in the 
lives of young people with his work on the National Board of Directors 
of Boy Scouts of America and the ``Toys for the Needy'' Campaign that 
he initiated with the Salvation Army. He is the husband of Willette and 
the proud father of Eddie, Jr. who is now at Penn State.
  I am delighted to join with the 27 N.A.A.C.P. branches of western 
Pennsylvania and their Regional Director, Mr. Charles Stokes in 
recognizing the many accomplishments of Mr. Eddie Edwards.

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