[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 167 (Friday, December 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2534-E2535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A RESOLUTION PRESENTING A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF 
                        DR. THOMAS KILGORE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 22, 1999

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following tribute 
for the Record.

[[Page E2535]]


    ``Precious in the Sight of the Lord is the death of His Saint''

       Whereas, Thomas Kilgore, Jr. was born on February 20, 1913 
     in Woodruff, South Carolina--the sixth of twelve children of 
     Thomas and Eugenia Kilgore; and
       Whereas, Thomas Kilgore, Jr. received his formal education 
     in Woodruff, Brevard and Asheville, North Carolina, having 
     shown early his profound intellect, he graduated with honors 
     from Morehouse College in 1935; did graduate work at Howard 
     University during 1944-45; and received a Masters of Divinity 
     from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 1957, and 
     was the recipient of numerous honorary doctoral degrees; and
       Whereas, Thomas Kilgore, Jr. accepted God at the early age 
     of 9 and from this spiritual renderance came the most 
     prophetic preacher sought after throughout this nation, and 
     he did not hesitate to inform the world of his calling by God 
     to do His tasks, and was recognized by Ebony Magazine as one 
     of America's 15 greatest black preachers; and
       Whereas, Thomas Kilgore, Jr. utilized his brilliant mind to 
     turn his ideas into reality and his vision into fruition, and 
     this combination of intelligence and integrity led him to 
     organize voter registration in schools and the unionization 
     of tobacco workers in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1943; 
     and
       Whereas, Thomas Kilgore, Jr. helped orchestrate the Kings' 
     March on Washington and directed a prayer pilgrimage for 
     freedom at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington; and was the 
     vanguard in the organization of an all day meeting with all 
     segments of the black community to plan the appropriate 
     memorial service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
       Whereas, Thomas Kilgore, Jr. married Jeannetta Marion Scott 
     in 1936, a lifelong educator, and were the proud parents of 
     two daughters, Lynn Elda and Jini Medina, and the proud 
     grandparents of three: Robin, Niambi, and Okera, and one 
     great grandson, Justen. Now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, a 
     mentee of his, proudly recognizes this man of vision, courage 
     and wisdom and his distinguished service of humanity to this 
     nation and the world.
       Dated this 1st day of December, 1999.

       

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