[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2158-E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          80TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO DR. J. EUGENE GRIGSBY, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 1998

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to recognize the 
accomplishments of Dr. J. Eugene Grigsby, Jr. who, on October 17, 1998, 
will celebrate his eightieth birthday.
  Dr. Grigsby is a distinguished artist, educator and author. His art 
work is represented in numerous public and private collections 
throughout the world. He has had one man exhibits in Luxembourg, 
Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Ohio and New York. 
In addition, his work has been included in group exhibits in Louisiana, 
Maryland, Illinois, Georgia, Nigeria, Florida, California, Texas, 
Washington, New Jersey, Iran, Alabama, North Carolina and South 
Carolina.
  Dr. Grigsby began his teaching career as an art instructor at 
Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1941. In 1946, he 
was recruited to establish an art program and department at Carver High 
School in Phoenix, Arizona. From there, he moved on to Phoenix Union 
High School and then to Arizona State University in 1966. He retired as 
professor of art from Arizona State University in 1988. In 1958, Dr. 
Grigsby was one of a select group of American artists invited to serve 
as artist in residence at the Children's Creative Center in the 
American Pavilion during the Brussels, Belgium World Fair.
  Gene Grigsby has written numerous articles on art and art education. 
His writings have appeared in Arts & Activities, Black Art Quarterly, 
School Arts, and The Journal of the National Art Education Association. 
His landmark book, Art & Ethnics, is used extensively in public schools 
throughout the nation as a resource on teaching about diversity and art 
in America.
  Dr. Grigsby has been affiliated with and held leadership positions in 
numerous professional organizations and associations throughout his 
long and distinguished career. He has been president of the Arizona Art 
Education Association; chair of the Consortium of Black Organizations 
and Others for the Arts; chair of the Artists of the Black Community/
Arizona; Chair of the Committee on Minority Concerns of the National 
Art Education Association; and vice-president of the National Art 
Education Association. His civic involvement has included being 
president of the Booker T. Washington Child Development Center, serving 
as a board member of the Phoenix Opportunities Industrialization 
Center, the Garfield Neighborhood Association, the Arizona State 
University Performing Arts Board, the Neighborhood Housing Service of 
Phoenix, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Phoenix Urban League, Phoenix 
Festivals, the South Mountain Magnet School Advisory Board, and the 
Advisory Board of Discover Art the art textbook widely used in grades 
1-6.
  Dr. Grigsby has received numerous awards for his achievements. This 
year the National Art Education Association named him their ``Retired 
Educator of the Year''. He has also received distinguished service 
awards from his alma mater, Morehouse College, from The Miami 
University of Ohio and The Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators. 
He has been honored by Four Corners Art Education Association, the 
University of Arizona and the National Gallery of Art. The Arizona 
State University Graduate College bestowed the ``Distinguished Research 
Scholar'' award upon him in 1983. In 1989 Grigsby received the Arizona 
Governor's ``Tostenrud Art Award'' for contributions to the Arts of 
Arizona and in 1992 he was the first African American to receive the 
Arizona History makers Award presented by the State of Arizona. 
Inducted into the History maker Hall of Fame along with Grigsby were 
Barry Goldwater and Sandra Day O'Connor. In 1965 the Philadelphia 
College of Art awarded him the Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.

  Dr. Grigsby has also been cited by the Phoenix OIC, the Arizona 
NAACP, and numerous schools, churches and community organizations for 
his selfless contributions of time, effort and expertise. The 
Meritorious Service Award of the National Art Education Association has 
been named the ``Eugene Grigsby Award for Service to Art Education'' in 
recognition of his significant contributions to the field of art 
education. In addition, his accomplishments are noted in numerous 
publications including: Who's Who Among African Americans; Who's Who in 
the World; Who's Who in America; Who's Who in American Art; Who's Who 
in the West; and Who's Who in Black America. Chapters on him also can 
be found in Art: African American; Those Who Serve; Contributions of 
Afro-Americans to the Visual Arts; Paths Toward Freedom, Biohistory of 
Blacks and Indians in North Carolina; Afro-American Artists, Dimensions 
in Black; Black Artists on Art; and American Negro Art.
  Dr. Grigsby is still widely in demand as a guest speaker. The former 
Danforth Fellow has lectured, conducted workshops and demonstrations on 
African Art, African American artists, and teaching art to high school 
students throughout the United States and in 13 countries in Africa, 
South America, the Caribbean and Australia.
  Gene Grigsby received his undergraduate education at Morehouse 
College in Atlanta, Georgia. He went on to earn the Master of Arts 
degree from The Ohio State University and the Ph.D from New York 
University in 1963. While in college Grigsby was an art major and a 
theater minor. He was an active participant in the Atlanta University 
Players as an actor and as a scenic designer. While attending Art 
School in New York, he was a participating member of the Rose McClendon 
Players as actor and scenic designer and was a member of the Langston 
Hughes' Suitcase Theatre. Grigsby was an apprentice to the scenic 
designer Perry Watkins for the Broadway Production, ``Mamba's 
Daughters''. He was a founding member of the Ohio State University 
Playmakers while attending The Ohio State University. In Phoenix, he 
became a member of the Civic Drama Festival as an actor and scenic 
designer.
  Grigsby, a 1942 volunteer for World War II, was Master Sergeant of 
the 573rd Ordinance Ammunition Company under 3rd Army's General George 
Patton. He devised the method of providing ammunition to the fast 
moving 3rd Army from Omaha Beach through France, Luxembourg and Germany 
to the Battle of the Bulge, by issuing ammunition from trucks instead 
of unloading it on the ground and reloading it on to trucks. After the 
war in Europe he wrote, produced and directed a hit musical

[[Page E2159]]

comedy for the 573rd Army Battalion with soldiers from the 572nd and 
the 583rd Companies entitled ``Two Points Shy''. This production 
entertained soldiers in the German cities of Furth, Nuremberg and 
Hamburg among others. It received commendations from the 3rd Army 
Commanding Officer.
  Gene Grigsby has been a creative dynamo for all of his adult life. 
His creative energy and talent have helped to train thousands of young 
artists and art educators. He continues to be a mentor to those who 
have known and worked with him for over fifty years.
  Gene Grigsby and his loving and supportive wife of over 55 years--
Thomasena--continue to reside in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I am 
happy to count Gene and Tommy Grigsby among my friends, and I am proud 
to salute the distinguished career of this great artist, are educator 
and American citizen.

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