[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO CLEO FIELDS

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 1996

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my colleague, 
the gentleman from Illinois, for yielding time to me to honor one of 
this body's most distinguished gentleman, the honorable Cleo Fields 
from the 4th district of Louisiana.
  While it pleases me to pay tribute to my dear friend, it saddens me 
to know that the reason I am here is because of an arbitrary rule 
change. My son Keith, who is about Cleo's age, tells me, ``Mom, you 
have to be a student of the game'', the game being sports.
  Over the years I've read a sports page or two. And in my readings I 
have found that whenever we African-Americans began to excel at a 
particular sport, there is a ``rule change''. When Lou Alcindor--also 
known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar--began playing college basketball, the 
NCAA outlawed the slam dunk--a rule change. When Wilt Chamberlain 
scored more than 100 points in one night, the NBA had a rule change. 
When Willie Brown became the most powerful speaker ever to preside over 
the California State Assembly, there was a rule change. And when the 
Nation's youngest State senator was elected to serve in this body, the 
most deliberative body in the world, there was a rule change.
  These rule changes indicate one thing to me: The struggle has not 
been ended. There are battles to be fought and wars yet to be won.
  It has truly been a pleasure to serve with Cleo on the Small Business 
Committee. I only wish that we could have served together longer. I 
have never seen a young man who was so wise beyond his years. He 
participated in some of the great debates of our committee. He brought 
clarity to the issues and always answered the call to defend the rights 
of minority and disadvantaged businesses.
  At a time when more of our young black males are in jail than in our 
universities, we can look to the Cleo Fields' of this Nation and know 
that there is hope. When his son, Cleo Brandon Fields, looks for a role 
model, we know that his father, Cleo Fields, will be there.
  As a mother, I am proud to say that I know this young giant, Cleo 
Fields. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I will remember 
his service and his sacrifice. As an African-American, I will remember 
that the struggle is not over. And while the rules may change--and 
change often--we are still in the game.
  Godspeed to you, Cleo Fields. And may His blessings follow you, 
Deborah, and Brandon in all of your future endeavors.

                          ____________________