[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO URBANA HIGH SCHOOL'S CONCERT CHOIR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the Urbana High School Concert 
Choir is scheduled to appear in Rome, Italy during this week of March 
12 through March 19 as a representative of the State of Illinois in an 
American Celebration of Music in Italy 1999.
  The Urbana High School Concert Choir is under the directorship of Mr. 
Willie T. Summerville who hails from Crossett, Arkansas, attended the 
T. W. Daniels High School, Arkansas AM&N College at Pine Bluff, and 
earned a master's degree in music education from the University of 
Illinois at Champaign. The choir will sing during the mass on the 16th 
of March in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. They will sing one selection 
at the beginning while the priests enter, one selection during the 
offertory, two selections during communion, and one selection at the 
end of the mass.
  Mr. Summerville and his 40 Urbana High School advanced concert choir 
members are to be commended and congratulated for being among the best 
in the world. But all of the Champaign-Urbana community are to be 
commended for their spirit of generosity and cooperation in 
contributing the $70,000 needed for the group to make the trip.
  The choir was selected on the basis of recommendations from State 
music officials, past accomplishments and superior ratings. All of the 
$70,000 came from donations, many as tributes to Willie T. Summerville, 
an outstanding teacher for more than 30 years.
  This letter, which I will read, contained the first $1,000 
contribution and says it all.

       To Mr. Summerville:
       Twenty-nine years ago, in the fall of 1969, I was a student 
     in Mrs. Bryan's sixth grade class at Robeson Elementary 
     School in Champaign, Illinois. In September of that year my 
     father was killed as a result of injuries he sustained in a 
     brutal beating that took place at Par 3 Golf Course. As you 
     can imagine, it was a very difficult time for me. I found few 
     things capable of lifting my spirits back then. Fortunately, 
     the one exception was you, your music class and the time 
     spent in the Robeson Chorus.
       I can still remember walking into your music class. You 
     greeted many of us with the silly names that you had made up 
     for us. Music class was always an enjoyable, fun time. We 
     traveled to many countries, many cultures and many people 
     thanks to you and your piano. You taught us about racial 
     equality and racial harmony. I still remember the words to 
     the songs you taught us, like Marching to Pretoria, Walk on 
     By and Good Old Days, to name just a few. On a more personal 
     level, for a boy who had just lost his father, you served as 
     a male mentor and for the time we were together helped to 
     fill some of the void left behind.
       Even outside the classroom, you were an influence in my 
     life. As you may recall, I learned to play trumpet from the 
     band teacher, Phil Garringer, and at his insistence 
     participated in two statewide annual solo music competitions. 
     You were my accompanist for both of those contests, and each 
     time I took home medals. But you were more than an 
     accompanist. You were my coach, my conscience and the driving 
     force behind my success in those contests. You taught me that 
     you play like you practice. You taught me about goals and 
     challenged me to set high standards for performance. You 
     taught me how to work to achieve them. Most of all you taught 
     me to believe in myself at a time when my confidence was 
     shaken. In so many ways, you helped to shape my life and 
     teach me lessons that I still use and practice today. In 
     short, you touched my life.
       I am so pleased to learn that you are still shaping and 
     touching young lives. A trip to Rome for your students will 
     no doubt be a life-changing experience for many of them. They 
     will never be the same again for having gone to Italy or for 
     having had you as their teacher. I am thankful that it is 
     finally my turn to help you, and in a very small way repay 
     you for all that you have done for me. I have no doubt that 
     you will succeed in raising the funds you need for the trip. 
     To you and your students, I say learn and enjoy. And thanks 
     again for the memories and lessons on life.
       Tim Miller, Vice President, General Counsel, Crane 
     Plastics.

  Again I say congratulations to the Urbana High School Concert Choir, 
to the Champaign-Urbana community, and all of those who made this 
opportunity possible for 40 outstanding young people to make a trip 
that they otherwise never would have experienced.
  Again I say congratulations to my cousin, Willie Summerville and his 
wife Valeria, both outstanding teachers, outstanding parents, parents 
of the year, humanitarians, and I say thanks to you for looking out for 
the young people from Chicago who come to Champaign-Urbana to attend 
the University of Illinois. I am certain that Moses and Lenora 
Summerville are proud of your work and the impact that you have had on 
the lives of others.
  Again, congratulations to you, all of the people of Champaign-Urbana, 
and certainly to the 40 outstanding young people who will get the 
opportunity to sing at St. Peter's Basilica.

                          ____________________