[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E81-E82]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO A.G. GASTON

                                 ______


                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute of Dr. A.G. 
Gaston, a leader among men, who recently died in Birmingham at the age 
of 103.
  Dr. Gaston was a pioneer, who developed businesses in Alabama in an 
age when blacks simply did not do such things. Dr. Gaston was a pioneer 
in the area of building a business empire which propelled him to become 
Alabama's first black millionaire.
  Dr. Gaston's life reads much like a literary rags-to-riches story. He 
was born on July 4, 1892, in Demopolis, AL, the grandson of slaves. 
Early in his life he moved to Birmingham and began working a variety of 
jobs before serving in the U.S. Army during World War I.
  When the war was over, Dr. Gaston and his mother got the idea of 
starting their own business by preparing box lunches, and the rest is 
history.
  From a meager beginning, Dr. Gaston eventually started a funeral 
business, from the funeral business emerged the Booker T. Washington 
Insurance Business in 1923, and from the insurance company came nine 
corporations with combined assets of more than $35 million. Among Dr. 
Gaston's other corporate ventures were: Vulcan Realty & Investment 
Corp.; Citizen's Federal Savings & Loan; Zion Memorial Cemetery; Smith 
& Gaston Funeral Homes; Wenn & Wagg Radio Stations; A.G. Gaston Senior 
Citizens Home; Booker T. Washington Business College, and A.G. Gaston 
Motel & Lounge--now A.G. Gaston Gardens.
  Dr. Gaston's interests were not limited to just his business 
ventures. Dr. Gaston is also well known as a trailblazer in the area of 
civil rights and equal justice for all men and women.
  When Dr. King was in Birmingham, he stayed at the A.G. Gaston Hotel 
and when Dr. King was arrested and put in jail for marching for 
equality by Police Commissioner Bull Conner, it was Dr. Gaston who 
bailed him out, so he could continue his fight for freedom. 

[[Page E82]]

  However, his kindnesses to Dr. King were not accomplished without 
personal cost, his home was firebombed and his hotel was burned, yet 
still he continued, for A.G. Gaston never was a quitter. He was a 
visionary, a pioneer, and a role model for our youth.
  Dr. Gaston had a deep and abiding love for the future of our 
community, our youth. He created the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club to 
help give our youth direction and purpose.
  He recognized, earlier than most, that our youth are the key to 
either the success or failure of our Nation. Unlike most people, who 
merely ``amen'' an idea, Dr. Gaston put his own money into the Boys and 
Girls Clubs, as well as numerous universities and colleges.
  America needs more men and women like Dr. A.G. Gaston. He will be 
missed by all of us who share his love of youth, his zest for life, and 
his deep concern for his fellow man.
  Dr. Gaston will be sorely missed.