[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 37 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E539-E540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TWELVE OUTSTANDING WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 1997

  Ms. GRANGER. It is with great pleasure, and even greater pride that I 
rise today to honor 12 outstanding women from the 12th District of 
Texas. On March 26, a dozen Fort Worth women will be recognized by the 
Fort Worth Commission on the Status of Women with the 1997 Outstanding 
Women awards. These awards are given annually to women who have 
strengthened the Fort Worth community through their local involvement 
and leadership.
  As a lifelong resident, former major and now Congresswoman from Fort 
Worth, I have witnessed first hand the breadth of their activities and 
the inspiration of their example.
  The backgrounds and activities of these women are varied and well 
representative of our community.
  Rachel DeRusse Newman, recipient of the Commissioners' Award for 
Advocacy for Children, has worked hard to become a corporate officer. 
Her career path has been difficult but her commitment and persistence 
have been unmatched. Knowing her path would have been easier with a 
college degree, Rachel Newman is working to ensure that Forth Worth's 
children get the best education possible. While serving as a Forth 
Worth Independent School Board trustee, she has worked to restructure 
the bilingual program, broaden a multicultural curriculum, and 
establish a Hispanic Scholarship Campaign Drive.
  Elaine Yoko Yamagata, recipient of the Commissioner's Award in the 
Arts, has been a strong leader for the arts in our community. She was 
responsible for bringing 80 Nagaoka citizens to participate in Sun & 
Star 1996, as well as coordinating meetings in Fort Worth for the 
Japanese American National Museum, located in Los Angeles. Yamagata is 
also active in Fort Worth Sister Cities International, the Van Cliburn 
Foundation, Forth Worth Symphony, and Fort Worth Opera and was a great 
help to me during my time as mayor.
  Opal Roland Lee will receive the Commissioner's Pioneer Award. While 
working as a home-school counselor, Opal has made time to charter many 
organizations and still volunteer with the Historical Society, 
Genealogical Society, Evans Avenue Business Association, Metroplex Food 
Bank, Habitat for Humanity,

[[Page E540]]

and Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity. For years, she organized Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. day events and continues participating on the 
Juneteenth Committee. Opal is also very active in her church and 
devoted to her family.
  Betty Randels, recipient of the Commissioners' Pioneer Award, first 
demonstrated her pioneering spirit in the late sixties when she fought 
to change the local jail system which housed juvenile offenders in the 
same cells with hardened criminals. In 1976, Betty chaired Tarrant 
County Child Care '76. More recently, she has helped charter the 
Tarrant County Child Welfare Board and been very active in numerous 
volunteer organizations, including the Fort Worth Girls Club.
  Dr. Jennifer Giddings-Brooks, principal of the Edward J. Brisco 
Elementary School and education advocate, will be recognized as 
cowinner of the education award. She uses her personal motto, ``All 
Children Can Learn,'' to inspire excellence in teaching, creative 
problem solving, and social intervention. Dr. Brooks served as a Fort 
Worth delegate to the President's Summit on America's Future and 
participated in the Carnegie Foundation Task force on Learning.

  Dr. Delores Simpson will be the other recipient of the education 
award. Dr. Simpson who maintains that you can do whatever you set your 
mind to, has been honored by Texas Christian University as Outstanding 
Educator from the School of Education. She is an inspiration to her 
students, her grown children, and the numerous organizations in which 
she volunteers, such as the Presbyterian Night Shelter Board, 
Metropolitan YMCA of Fort Worth Board, and the FWISD Stay in School 
Task Force.
  As Director of the legal department for the Tarrant County Domestic 
Relations Office, Pamela Dunlop-Gates has argued on behalf of hundreds 
of children and is well deserving of the law award. She is very active 
among community organizations such as the Metroplex Black Chamber of 
Commerce and the United Negro College Fund. She is also cofounded the 
Tarrant County Black Women Lawyers Association's Uncontested Divorce 
Clinic. She has been a strong voice for our community.
  Una Bailey and Rosemary Hayes will be recognized in the volunteer 
category. Ms. Bailey is active in the Parent-Teacher Association, Fort 
Worth Independent School District, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and numerous 
other organizations. Ms. Hayes volunteered more than 500 hours at St. 
Joseph Hospital, was treasurer of Patrons for the East Regional Library 
and is active in numerous other civic organizations. Both Una and 
Rosemary contribute daily to the quality of life in Fort Worth.
  The award winners for outstanding women in the workplace are Donna R. 
Parker and Carrie Jean Tunson. Donna is executive vice president of 
urban development for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce where she 
manages aviation, transportation, environmental, and quality work force 
development. Donna has been very important to the economic development 
of Fort Worth. She is active in Citizens Crime Commission of Tarrant 
County, United Way, Metropolitan Fort Worth, United Negro College Fund, 
and many other groups. Ms. Tunson, dean of continuing education and 
economics at Tarrant County Junior College [TCJC] Southeast Campus, has 
worked to achieve a spirit of cooperation between TCJC and minority 
citizens. Ms. Tunson's community service includes Senior Citizens 
Services of Greater Tarrant County, Arlington Black Chamber of 
Commerce, Asian American Organization, and other organizations.
  Norma Jean Ramsey Johnson, associated with Tarrant County's Nutrition 
Program for more than 25 years, has improved the lives of more than 
8,000 families and is a long-time volunteer. Ms. Johnson teaches 
nutrition, food safety, healthful preparation, and management skills. 
She is the health care award winner.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1857, C. Nestell Bovee said, ``Next to God, we are 
indebted to women, first for life itself, and then for making it worth 
having.'' These 12 women have certainly contributed to making life in 
Forth Worth worth having.
  I commend to the American people the examples of these outstanding 
women. They have made their friends, their family, and their Nation 
very proud.

                          ____________________