[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E319-E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         A POINT OF LIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS: CHARLES E. INNISS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 1997

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an individual who 
devoted his life to public service and community charity. Charles 
Inniss' life of 61 years has left an indelible impression on all with 
whom he came in contact. Although he has passed, his life will remain a 
testament that human compassion is one of the virtues that matters most 
in life. Charles Inniss was a model human being and a great ``point of 
light'' whose contributions must not go unacknowledged.
  He was a business administrator, a creative technician, and an artist 
all combined. He could walk with kings and never lose the common touch. 
Throughout his professional life at Brooklyn Union Gas. Mr. Inniss was 
viewed as dedicated, committed, and caring. He joined Brooklyn Union in 
1979 as assistant manager in public relations and communications and 
retired in 1995 as vice president of the urban affairs division. Before 
joining Brooklyn Union, he served as assistant district service manager 
at Dun & Bradstreet, executive director of Studio Museum in Harlem, 
director of area development for the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration 
Corp., administrator of Brooklyn Model Cities, and director of public 
information and development at the Brooklyn Public Library.
  It has been Mr. Inniss' humanitarian deeds that have earned him the 
greatest respect and admiration of those lives he has touched. He 
devoted his life to public service by serving on more than 25 
charitable organizations. He served actively in the following 
organizations: the Brooklyn Arts Council, the board for the Brooklyn 
Children's Museum, the board for the Marcus Garvey Nursing Home, the 
American Association of Blacks in Energy, the Staten Island Zoological 
Society, the board for Catholic International, the Mayor's New York 
City Advisory Cultural Commission, and the Black Officers Association.

  Throughout the years, Charles Inniss worked diligently in positions 
that he found to be beneficial to the community. He was cofounder of 
Career Opportunities for Brooklyn Youth, director and past chairman of 
the Studio Museum in Harlem, chairman of Neighborhood Artists, and past 
chair of the American Gas Foundation. In 1992, he was appointed by the 
Governor to the City University of New York board of trustees and 
served as chair of the university's construction fund.
  Mr. Inniss has been recognized for his contributions to a broad 
spectrum of cultural, educational, and social services agencies, 
institutions and organizations. The Franciscan Sisters for the Poor 
named their new residence for homeless men the Charles E. Inniss St. 
Joseph Franciscan House in honor of his dedicated service to the 
organization. In addition, Mr. Inniss received an honorary doctorate of 
laws from St. Joseph's College, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Forsythia 
Award, the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Heritage Award, and the 
President's Medal for Kingsborough Community College.
  Probably the most outstanding feature of Charles Inniss' character 
and style was his refusal to be shackled by formality and bureaucracy. 
He supported programs in need when his own eyes and ears told him they 
were positive and productive. A lack of paper work and the appropriate 
statistics never prevented funding activities deemed useful to the 
community. Mr. Inniss made Brooklyn Union one of the earliest sponsors 
of the Central Brooklyn Martin Luther King Commission which is now in 
its 12th year of service to the community.
  Mr. Inniss was born in Harlem, NY and spent the formative years of 
his childhood in the east Bronx. He is a graduate of Evander Childs 
High School and served as captain of the 369th Artillery Battalion. He 
received a bachelor of science degree and master of public 
administration degree from New York University.

[[Page E320]]

  Charles Inniss is survived by his wife, Marge; a brother, Wilbur; two 
sisters, Norma and Frances; a sister-in-law, Madelaine; one niece, 
Wendy Woodland; one nephew, David; two grand-nephews, Christopher and 
Bryan; and a host of beloved and other family members.
  Service to community is an unselfish and difficult calling. 
Consistently, Charles Inniss has made it appear to be effortless by 
playing a pivotal role in virtually every aspect of the lives of the 
people of New York. I sincerely appreciate the richness and dedication 
that marked Mr. Inniss' life. Charles E. Inniss is a great ``point of 
light'' for all of the people of America to revere.

                          ____________________