[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TO COMMEMORATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HORACE C. DOWNING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT C. SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 1998

  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Horace C. 
Downing, my good friend and long-term community leader in the Third 
Congressional District of Virginia.
  Mr. Downing was born on February 26, 1917. He has amassed a 
commendable record of community leadership based on a tradition of 
leading by example. It began with the example he set as a dedicated 
family man, who, along with his wife Beryl, raised four children who 
have given them eight grandchildren.
  At the age of 81, Mr. Downing remains active in his community as he 
has been for all of his adult life, including the period of his service 
to the greater community while in the US Army from 1949 to 1952. He 
served during the Korean War with the Quartermaster Battalion and the 
24th Infantry Combat Team as a non-commissioned officer.
  After leaving active duty in the military Mr. Downing threw himself 
into the community serving first as a supervisor for the Housing 
Improvement Program of Norfolk, Virginia where he was quickly promoted 
to Community Relations Officer as a result of his diligent and 
effective leadership. While in his position with these Housing 
programs, he became involved in the most important community service 
endeavor of his career--his work on behalf of the children of his 
community. As a founder and past president of a number of youth and 
civic organizations in the Berkley community, Mr. Downing has more than 
earned the honor of being known affectionately as the ``Mayor of 
Berkley''.
  Mr. Downing went on to found or hold membership in thirty-five 
different organizations. These memberships range from community parent/
teacher associations, human resource and business groups, the NAACP and 
youth groups to city-wide and state-wide organizations.
  Mr. Downing demonstrated to the students that surrounded him the 
value of the concept of life-long learning by continuing his education 
into his sixties. At a time when students and young people are 
inundated with negative images and lack role models who show true care 
for them and the problems they face, he has been a beacon of light for 
them. While many in our community have written young people off as 
apathetic and uninvolved, Mr. Downing has founded organizations that 
promote political and civic responsibility in young people.
  Mr. Downing has been honored by the VA Extension Service, Norfolk 
Public Schools, Norfolk Model City Commission, Virginia Federation of 
Parent Teachers Associations and other organizations in his community 
and across the state. So, it is with honor that I call attention to his 
contributions before the Congress and the nation and I ask that these 
remarks be made a part of the permanent records of this body. Thank 
you, Mr. Speaker.

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