[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 1996

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with this year's Black History 
Month theme, ``African American Women: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow'' 
I would like to pay tribute to an outstanding St. Louisan who 
exemplifies the highest values and qualities of leadership in the 
African-American community, Mrs. Margaret Bush Wilson.
  Mrs. Wilson is a St. Louis native who graduated from Sumner High 
School and received a B.A. degree in economics, cum laude, from 
Talladega College. She went on to earn her LL.B from Lincoln University 
School of Law. Mrs. Wilson has been a highly respected jurist in St. 
Louis for many years and is admitted to practice before the U.S. 
Supreme Court. She has also taught at the CLEO Institute and St. Louis 
University School of Law.
  Margaret Bush Wilson has dedicated her life to the fight for civil 
rights and racial equality, carrying on a family tradition of community 
service. Mrs. Wilson's mother, Berenice Casey, served on the executive 
committee of the St. Louis NAACP in the 1920's and 1930's and her 
father, James T. Bush, Sr., a pioneer real; estate broker in St. Louis 
was the moving force behind the Shelley versus Kraemer case which led 
to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing racial 
restrictive housing covenants.
  In addition to being a prominent St. Louis leader, Margaret Bush 
Wilson has served in many national positions. She was national 
chairperson of the NAACP Board of Directors from 1975-84. She has also 
served in the following Federal, State, and local posts: U.S. Attorney, 
Legal Division, the Rural Electrification Administration of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, assistant attorney-general of Missouri, 
Legal Services specialist, State Technical Assistance Office, War on 
Poverty; administrator, community services and continuing education 
programs, title I, Higher Education Act of 1965 in Missouri, and acting 
director, St. Louis Lawyers for Housing.
  Mrs. Wilson actively serves in numerous organizations committed to 
education and social justice. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha 
Sorority and is the recipient of many civic and professional awards 
including honorary degrees from St. Paul's College, Smith College, 
Washington University, Kenyon College, Talladega College, Boston 
University, and the University, of Missouri-St. Louis.
  Margaret Bush Wilson is a cherished member of the St. Louis community 
and a distinguished black woman. She has demonstrated a deep 
understanding of the history of the black community and displayed the 
highest level of compassion for equal justice. She has truly dedicated 
her life to improving the future of the black community.
  Mr. Speaker. I am honored to salute Mrs. Margaret Bush Wilson, a 
force for good in our society who has helped changed the course of 
African-American history.

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