[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E591-E592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     COMMENDING SIX AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS FOR THEIR VITAL ROLES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the efforts of 
six African American leaders in Denver who fulfill vital roles in their 
communities. It is to commend these outstanding citizens that I rise to 
honor Rev. Paul Martin, Gloria Holliday, Rev. James Peters, Jr., Menola 
Neal Upshaw, Rev. Jesse Langston Boyd, Jr., and Arie Parks Taylor.
  Reverend Paul Martin is the Chair of the Denver Urban League and also 
Senior Pastor at Denver's Macedonia Baptist Church. In conjunction with 
his church, he has laid the groundwork for a senior citizen's manor and 
remains active in creating and finding more housing for seniors. He has 
not only protected the interests of the elderly, but in conjunction 
with the Urban League, he has ignited the dreams of youth as well. 
Another example of this commitment is his work to open the Redeemer 
Alternative School for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade age children 
in Los Angeles, CA.
  Currently, Reverend Martin is on the frontlines of a movement to 
redevelop neglected Denver neighborhoods. Through his work with the 
Stapleton Development Corp., he has helped take strides in the 
redevelopment of the old Stapleton airport site in central Denver. The 
Reverend is also working conscientiously to revitalize Northeast 
Denver. It comes as no surprise to me or any other member of our 
community that Reverend Martin was recently presented with the 
Humanitarian Race Relations Award by the city and county of Denver.
  Gloria Holliday has amassed a long history of hard work on behalf of 
the African American community. In the 1960's, she served as secretary 
to legendary civil rights activist, Medgar Evers. Working with Evers on 
voter registration and integration, she organized the first economic 
boycott of racist business merchants in Jackson, MS, and fought 
valiantly to desegregate hotels in Atlanta, GA. Her desegregation 
efforts continued in Denver when she confronted and helped integrate 
retailers like King Soopers, Safeway and Denver Dry Goods Co.
  Gloria has been a long time Democratic Party activist. She now serves 
on the Board of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) where she 
has been instrumental in creating an ad wheel that won the highest 
American Public Transit Association award. She also won the Black Women 
for Political Action's Award for Politics based on her work for RTD and 
her own personal endeavors. Not surprisingly, Gloria is also known for 
her outstanding work with youth. For young and old, she is a pillar in 
the community.
  Reverend James D. Peters, Jr. also has a long history of civic 
leadership. This commitment has earned him several notable honors,

[[Page E592]]

including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP) Special Service Award and the Outstanding Service Award, 
presented to him by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reverend Peters worked 
for Dr. King in Connecticut where he raised money for civil rights 
causes. These funds were used to organize bus trips from Connecticut to 
the South for demonstrations and for bailing protestors out of prison 
among other things.
  In Denver, Reverend Peters helps to fulfill both the spiritual and 
humanitarian needs of Denverites through his work as Pastor of the New 
Hope Baptist Church and as a member of the Denver Housing Authority 
Board of Commissioners. As a member of that board, he assists 22,000 
public housing residents in enhancing the living conditions of their 
homes. His devotion and service to the community have earned him 
several accolades. Since his arrival in Denver, the Anti-Defamation 
League recognized him with its Civil Rights Award and the Denver City 
Council cited him for his leadership in Denver.
  Menola Neal Upshaw has devoted herself to the city of Denver as the 
President of the Denver branch of the NAACP and as a teacher and 
administrator. Mrs. Upshaw taught elementary school students in 
Oklahoma City, East St. Louis, Illinois and Denver. She served as a 
Denver Public Schools administrator for 26 years. The Denver Public 
Schools recognized her outstanding work as a teacher and administrator 
with a cherished award, the Teacher of the Year Award. Menola also won 
the NAACP Legend of the Year Award and Woman of the Year Award.
  She has been a member of the NAACP since she was 9 years old and the 
president of the Denver branch since 1994. She has won additional 
awards for her parenting skills and work with her church. She won the 
Parent of the Year Award from Ottawa University and the Most Valiant 
Woman award given by the Zion Baptist Church, where she served as 
Sunday School Superintendent for 25 years.
  Reverend Jesse Langston Boyd, Jr., enriches Denver working as the 
pastor of Shorter Community African Methodist Episcopal Church and also 
through his own community efforts. His contributions to his 
parishioners have included the rebuilding and relocation of his church, 
containing education facilities and a multi-family housing complex. He 
is a past president of the Denver Ministerial Alliance and Methodist 
Ministers Fellowship in Denver and has served as a member of the 
Executive Board of Denver's Council of Churches.
  He has also held important secular positions. He is currently 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Denver-Metro Push and is the 
organizer of PUSH-Los Angeles. In addition, former Governor Roy Romer 
appointed him the first African American on the State of Colorado 
Wildlife Commission and to the Colorado Commission for Prenatal Care.
  I would also like to recognize Arie Parks Taylor who has devoted a 
lifetime to improving Denver. Arie Taylor is often compared to Bella 
Abzug, a former Congresswoman from New York, who is remembered for her 
custom of wearing hats and her advocacy for the disadvantaged. Arie 
wears hats as well, but it is her compassion for people that helped 
Colorado so much.
  Arie served Colorado as a State Representative for District 7 for 12 
years. While in office she passed legislation amending fair housing and 
civil rights laws. She also sponsored legislation to help people with 
hemophilia and sickle cell anemia find care. She caught the eye of the 
Nation when she served three times as a delegate at the National 
Democratic Convention, where she protested the seating of all-white 
southern delegations. Not only did she work in these positions, but she 
retired in 1995 as Denver's first African American Clerk and Recorder.
  Please join me in commending Rev. Paul Martin, Gloria Holliday, Rev. 
James Peters, Jr., Menola Neal Upshaw, Rev. Jesse Langston Boyd, Jr., 
and Arie Parks Taylor for their courage and fortitude. It is the strong 
leadership they present in their everyday lives that make them so 
beloved in our community.

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