[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E65-E66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO ISAAC AND VEOLA CHAMBERS, RUTHERFORD BOYD GASTON, SR., DR. 
 BENJAMIN F. QUILLIAN, MICHAEL E. SMITH, AND LA'VERA ETHRIDGE-WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE P. RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 1998

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Isaac and 
Veola Chambers, Rutherford Boyd Gaston, Sr., Dr. Benjamin F. Quillian, 
Michael E. Smith, and La'Vera Ethridge-Williams for being selected the 
1998 Portraits of Success program Honorees by KSEE 24 and Companies 
that Care. In celebration of African-American History Month, these five 
leaders were honored for their unique contributions to the betterment 
of their community.
  Isaac and Veola Chambers were selected for the Portraits of Success 
award as a husband and wife team. They have lived in Madera since 1957 
and have been blessed with nine children. Veola Chambers was a farm 
worker and nurse's aid until 1975. She then was hired by the Madera 
County Welfare Department as a social service aid. In 1977, she served 
as a peace officer for the Madera County Probation Department until 
1995. Isaac Chambers served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and 
was discharged in 1956. After his discharge he worked hard in the 
construction industry and in the fields. In 1968, he became the foreman 
for the United Vintners/Canadian Winery in Madera, where he worked 
until retirement in 1995. The Chambers have also worked hard to give 
back to the community by organizing food, clothing and toy drives for 
the needy. They organized Fresno's popular ``Juneteenth Celebration'' 
and have been very active with the Second Baptist Missionary Baptist 
Church. Isaac and Veola Chambers have truly been model citizens over 
the years through their strong dedication to children, family values, 
hard work, volunteerism and a commitment to church and God.
  Mr. Rutherford ``Bud'' Gaston is one of Fresno's most highly 
distinguished African-American leaders. He achieved the rank of Second 
Lieutenant in five years of service with the U.S. Army. After his 
military service, Mr. Gaston enrolled at California State University, 
Fresno and obtained a degree in education. He later went on to obtain a 
Masters Degree in Educational Administration. Mr. Gaston had a 
distinguished teaching career in the Fresno Unified School District 
from 1953 to 1986. His passion for education is reflected by his 
lifetime involvement with community educational advocacy groups. Mr. 
Gaston founded Black Educators of Fresno in 1961, and was instrumental 
in Fresno's Desegregation Task Force during the mid-1970's. He has 
served as the President of United Black Men of Fresno for ten years and 
also kept active on several organizational boards, including the Fresno 
Metropolitan Museum, Chaffee Zoo, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno, St. 
Agnes Medical Center and the Kiwanis Club of Fresno. Mr. Gaston's hard 
work and leadership has earned him much appreciation from major civic, 
church and public agencies in Fresno.
  Dr. Benjamin F. Quillian, Jr. has served as the Vice President for 
Administration for the California State University System since 1993. 
This position gives him the responsibility to oversee and plan the 
areas of financial management, plant operations, human resources, 
procurement, facilities planning, campus police, environmental health 
and utility management for the entire California State University 
System. He also chairs the Athletic Corporation Board of Directors and 
the Campus Planning Committee. Dr. Quillian has published numerous 
research articles dealing with affirmative action, the juvenile justice 
system, the status of black men in education, and more recently 
investment in information technology. His work will likely have a 
positive impact on many people for years to come.
  Michael E. Smith began his career as a firefighter in 1978 with the 
Monterey Fire Department. In 1981, Mr. Smith joined the San Jose Fire 
Department and soon moved through the ranks to become Deputy Chief. He 
was then selected as the Fresno Fire Department Chief in 1994. Since 
then, he has started several innovative programs, such as ``A Friend is 
Waiting.'' This program welcomes children or residents who feel 
threatened by strangers or a dangerous situation. Mr. Smith is married 
and has three children. I applaud his exceptional dedication and hard 
work.
  La'Vera Ethridge-Williams is a dedicated community leader and highly 
successful business woman. Ms. Ethridge-Williams was born in Oklahoma 
and moved to Fresno to attend Fresno State University in 1945. In the 
mid-1960's, Ms. Ethridge-Williams recognized the enormous need for 
child care in West Fresno. Armed with this knowledge and vision, she 
opened her first child care facility in 1969. Today she operates 
fourteen child care centers in Fresno and surrounding cities. These 
facilities service over 1,000 children daily and employ more than 100 
people. In addition to being highly successful in business, Ms. 
Ethridge-Williams has been very active in community work. Her hard work 
and commitment to help better the community has resulted in numerous 
awards.

[[Page E66]]

  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I pay tribute to Isaac and 
Veola Chambers, Rutherford Boyd Gaston, Sr., Dr. Benjamin F. Quillian, 
Michael E. Smith, and La'Vera Ethridge-Williams for being recognized as 
the KSEE 24 and Companies that Care 1998 African-American Portraits of 
Success honorees. I applaud the contributions, ideas, and leadership 
they have exhibited in our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
wishing these fine people many more years of success.

                          ____________________