[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 131 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO REV. WILLIAM P. COOKE

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                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 1997

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the reverend 
emeritus of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA. Rev. William 
P. Cooke. As Reverend Cooke celebrates his 80th birthday today, I ask 
all of my colleagues to join me in saluting his remarkable life's work 
in community service.
  Reverend Cooke's commitment to the Sacramento community dates back to 
1952 when he joined Shiloh Baptist Church. In 1956 he was ordained by 
the church and he began his service as pastor just 3 months thereafter.
  The commitment of Reverend Cooke to his congregation has become 
legendary in Sacramento. When the membership undertook the task of 
building a new church, Pastor Cooke often labored alone on the 
construction of a new house of worship for his ministry.
  For 5 years, Reverend Cooke worked 12- to 15-hour days completing the 
church structure. Since the congregation had no carpenters among its 
ranks, Pastor Cooke did all of the finish carpentry himself. Reverend 
Cooke's unwavering dedication to this project ultimately led to the 
completion of a new house of worship for Shiloh Baptist Church in 1963.
  In 1965, Pastor Cooke began the important tradition of an annual 
banquet for the Shiloh Baptist Church congregation. The day was 
envisaged by Reverend Cooke as a perpetual reminder of the hardships 
endured and the accomplishments achieved by the prayer and faith of his 
dedicated membership.
  Since then, Reverend Cooke has been a formidable spiritual leader in 
the Sacramento community. Currently, he is enjoying a very well-
deserved retirement after 26 years as pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, 
plus another 4 years in an interim capacity.
  Over the years, Reverend Cooke has received numerous special 
recognitions for his many good deeds. In 1973, the Sacramento City 
Council paid tribute to Reverend Cooke for his work as a member of the 
Citizen's Committee on Police Practices by giving him a Distinguished 
Service Award.
  Because of his tireless leadership and concern for his fellow 
Sacramentans, especially young people, Reverend Cooke was presented 
with the Father of the Year Award in 1977. He has served selflessly as 
a foster parent for dozen of children throughout California.
  Reverend Cooke has also displayed a passion for the cause of civil 
rights. Along this vein, he served as a member of the board of the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for many 
years.
  In 1985, Reverend Cooke was honored with the Educational Board Award 
of the California State Baptist Convention. His exceptional leadership 
of Shiloh Baptist Church, along with an unwavering confidence in the 
power of education, made Reverend Cooke a most appropriate recipient of 
this high honor.
  Additonally, Reverend Cooke was recognized for his exceptional 
spiritual deeds when he was presented with the Intergenerational 
Spiritual Leadership Award in 1994. The Department of Health and Human 
Services has similarly honored Reverend Cooke with an award for 
Outstanding Public Service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute today to a remarkable man of 
faith who singlehandedly built a great ministry in Sacramento. Rev. 
Willie Cooke is a special person whose record of compassionate 
community service will endure for many years to come. I ask all of my 
colleagues to join me in wishing him a very joyous 80th birthday 
celebration.

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