[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 30, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO DR. S.M. WRIGHT OF DALLAS, TX

                                 ______


                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
honor a great Texan and a great American, Dr. Sylvester Maryland Wright 
of Dallas, TX, who passed from this life on November 3, 1994. As 
president of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, Dr. 
Wright led one of the largest and oldest religious organizations in the 
country. Prior to serving in this tremendous capacity, Dr. Wright was a 
fixture in Texas and national political leadership for more than three 
decades.
  In Dallas, and throughout the State of Texas, Dr. S.M. Wright was 
sought out for his leadership and council by political leaders and 
elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans. His support of their 
efforts was always critical. An endorsement by Dr. Wright was 
tantamount to success.
  History would be incomplete without enumerating the many profound 
accomplishments of Dr. S.M. Wright, and the impact his years of service 
had on Dallas and beyond. For 37 years, Dr. Wright served as the pastor 
of the Peoples Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, TX, with a 
membership of over 1,600. During his outstanding career in the 
ministry, Dr. Wright also served as vice chairman of the Billy Graham 
Crusade of the Southwest; helped lead the Educational Task Force of 
Dallas Alliance at Drew School Desegregation Plan in 1976; and became 
the first black elected to the Democratic Convention of Grayson County.
  The list of civic and professional organizations to which he gave his 
unlimited devotion included the South Dallas NAACP; the Dallas Black 
Chamber of Commerce; the Ministers' Conference of Prairie View A&M 
University; the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas; Children's Medical 
Center of Dallas; and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Chaplain Board.
  For more than 30 years, Dr. Wright served as president of the 
Interdenominational Ministers' Alliance of Metropolitan Dallas. His 
bold and courageous leadership in organizing black leaders around the 
State of Texas, served as a catalyst in the election of former 
President Jimmy Carter.
  Many doors that were previously closed to the black community were 
opened to Dr. Wright. He, in turn, opened those doors for the rest of 
us. One of his greatest accomplishments was his successful efforts to 
desegregate the Dallas public schools. All of Dallas owes him a 
tremendous debt of gratitude for his leadership in this historic 
achievement.
  Throughout the years, Dr. Wright has consistently worked to improve 
race relations in Dallas, and throughout the State of Texas, by opening 
dialogue that remained focused on helping Dallas rise to its fullest 
potential. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a former colleague and friend 
of Dr. Wright, said this:

       An individual has not started living until he can rise 
     above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to 
     the broader concerns of all humanity.

  That is precisely the way Dr. Wright lived, and shared, his life, for 
the betterment of his fellow man. The city of Dallas, and the entire 
world, suffered a great loss on November 3, 1994.

                          ____________________