[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1185-E1186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING RUSSELL MAJOR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 1999

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Russell 
Major.
  Russell Major devoted every single waking moment to making Englewood, 
New Jersey a city that could boast of being a haven for all people, 
regardless of their race, color or ethnic background.
  The countless hours that Russell spent organizing sit-ins and 
circulating petitions to

[[Page E1186]]

achieve this end were oriented particularly towards providing the 
children of Englewood with the opportunity to realize the American 
Dream. He rightly recognized that to deny a child an opportunity for a 
quality education is to deny that child a lifetime of opportunities.
  Russell Major believed that every child should be educated in schools 
that are safe and well-maintained, schools that have access to advanced 
educational technology, and schools with classes that are small enough 
to facilitate the best teaching and learning.
  On June 12, 1999, the Englewood Board of Education will be renaming 
the Liberty School after Russell Major. From now on, when the students 
walk into the Russell Major Liberty School on Tenafly Road, they will 
be walking into a school whose namesake embodies the values that they 
are being taught: tolerance, patience, fairness, vigilance, and 
excellence. These are the values that will help these young people 
realize the vision that Russell had for them and for all Americans, a 
vision that was grounded in family, community and education.
  It was also a vision that enabled Russell Major to give of his heart, 
as much as he gave of his mind. And it was a vision that gained him the 
respect of every person who ever came into contact with him.
  Russell Major fought to make the America he envisioned a reality for 
the people of Englewood and beyond. By renaming the Liberty School in 
Russell's memory, we are honoring his legacy and challenging future 
generations to continue his important work.

                          ____________________