[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E219-E220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DeWITT BUSSEY

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday I had the 
privilege of participating in the memorial services for Mr. DeWitt 
Bussey II at Solomon Temple Baptist Church in Pittsburg, CA.
  DeWitt Bussey was a remarkable man. He gave his entire life to his 
country and to his community, first in the Armed Forces of this Nation 
and then later as a community activist and volunteer. Mr. Bussey gave 
his time to his family and to the children of our community where he 
counseled and inspired them to achieve high levels of performance as 
individuals in their daily lives.
  Mr. Speaker, DeWitt Bussey was a warrior against the evils of racism 
and bigotry. He fought them wherever these evils raised their ugly 
heads in our community or in our State. DeWitt Bussey was there to 
fight back as a founder of the NAACP Racial Intolerance Task Force.
  DeWitt Bussey II was born on January 22, 1934, in Columbus, GA, the 
youngest of three children born to DeWitt T. Bussey, Sr., and Narcissus 
Burke Threatt. In 1948, at the age of 15, he enlisted in the U.S. Army 
shortly before the military became integrated. For the next 22 years, 
Mr. Bussey served in the Army with distinction, graduating from the 
military intelligence branch of Officer's Candidate School and 
attending the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, where he 
became fluent in Russian. He also fought in the Korean war and the 
Vietnam conflict. In 1970, Mr. Bussey retired from the military at the 
rank of captain. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Pittsburg, CA, with 
his wife and children in 1971.
  Mr. Bussey graduated from Laney College in Oakland, CA, and earned a 
bachelor's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University 
in San Francisco, CA. He also completed several courses at Los Medanos 
College in Pittsburg. Mr. Bussey worked in a number of occupations 
following his military retirement, including salesman, circulation 
manager at the Pittsburg Post Dispatch, director of the First Baptist 
Church Head Start Program and part-time instructor at Los Medanos 
College. In addition, he worked for the Federal Government in the 
General Services Administration and the Youth Authority Conservation 
Corps. For the past 10 years, Mr. Bussey was self-employed as a 
consultant.
  Active in State and local politics, Mr. Bussey was a member of the 
Rainbow Coalition and the East County Democratic Club and twice ran for 
a seat on the Pittsburg City Council. A passionate advocate for civil 
rights and a unwavering voice against injustice and racial intolerance, 
Mr. Bussey was a life member of the NAACP, a member of the Racial 
Intolerance Task Force, the African-American Resource Center, the Los 
Medanos Community Hospital Affirmative Action Committee and the 
Pittsburg Unified School District Affirmative Action Committee. From 
his arrival in Pittsburg until recently, Mr. Bussey actively 
participated in a number of community and educational organizations, 
including the Pittsburg Unified School District Student Attendance 
Review Board, the Pittsburg Model City Program, the Economic 
Opportunity Council, the First Neighborhood Council, the Pittsburg Area 
Council, and the Youth Connection. He also helped to establish the El 
Pueblo Track Club. At the time of his death, Mr. Bussey was serving as 
the district advisory chairperson for the Pittsburg Unified School 
District.
  In 1990, Mr. Bussey joined Stewart Memorial C.M.E. Church in 
Pittsburg under the leadership of the late Reverend Willie Mays. He 
served on the board of trustees, taught Sunday School and served as an 
instructor for Project Spirit, an after-school program established by 
the church.
  Mr. Bussey is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Edna, of 
Pittsburg; sons, DeWitt III and Jaimie of Pittsburg; daughters Carol 
and Deja of Pittsburg and Donna of Atlanta, GA; granddaughter Danielle; 
sisters, Lenora Bussey Tubbs and Verna Kay Bussey Miles of Pittsburg; 
brother, Robert Threatt of Pittsburg and numerous relatives and 
friends.
  Mr. Speaker, our community lost a champion with the passing of DeWitt 
Bussey, but we are fortunate that he left us such a wonderful family 
with his values to carry on his work with our children to teach them 
excellence.
  My family and our entire community extend our prayers to the Bussey 
family.

[[Page E220]]


  TRIBUTE TO DETECTIVE NICHOLAS SALERNO, BERWYN, IL POLICE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a law 
enforcement officer who had been recognized for his community 
invovlement--Detective Nicholas Salerno of the Berwyn, Illinois Police 
Department.
  Detective Salerno, an 18-year veteran of the force, was honored with 
the Cook County Sheriff's Award for Merit in recognition of his 
involvement with his community. A member of the Department's Juvenile 
Unit, Detective Salerno has been active with the Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education [DARE] program in the city.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Detective Salerno and all the other law 
enforcement officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to help 
the young people of their communities.

                          ____________________