[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E586-E587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO MILTON J. WALLACE, COMMUNITY HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to one of my community's unsung heroes, Attorney Milton J. 
Wallace. On May 10, 2000, 12:00 noon, at the Miami Inter-Continental 
Hotel the Miami-Dade Affordable Housing Foundation will host its First 
Annual Housing Heroes Awards Luncheon to honor him for his many years 
of dedication and service under the aegis of the affordable housing 
movement.
  Born to Mark and Regina Wallace in New Jersey on December 17, 1935, 
Milton Wallace was the only child who came to grace this loving couple. 
His family moved to Miami in 1949, and he subsequently attended the 
University of Miami, obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1956 with summa 
cum laude, the highest distinction awarded to any graduate. In 1959 he 
obtained his law degree, and was inducted as a member of the Iron 
Arrow--the august group of Hurricane alumni who have gone above and 
beyond the call of duty in upholding the honor and glory of their Alma 
Mater.
  A Certified Public Accountant since 1957, he has also been a Member 
of the Florida Bar since 1959 and a Licensed General Contractor in 
Florida since 1969. Mr. Wallace became a City of Miami Judge from 1961 
to 1963, and served as Florida's Assistant Attorney General from 1965 
to 1970. He moved on to hold the position of General Counsel to the 
Florida Securities Commission, which soon became the Division of 
Securities within the office of Comptroller of the State of Florida.
  Happily married to his wife Patricia since 1963, he is blessed with 
two sons, Mark who is 32 and Hardy, age 22. While his affiliations with 
many corporations and civic organizations are many, Milton Wallace 
takes ample pride in representing the noblest of our community. As a 
Director and founding member of the Miami-Dade Affordable Housing 
foundation, Inc., he has resiliently dedicated a major portion of his 
life to making the justice system work on behalf of the less fortunate.
  He wisely chose the challenge of ensuring home ownership as an 
affordable and accessible right for countless ordinary citizens who 
have done and are doing their fair share in

[[Page E587]]

contributing to the good of our community. Long before anyone ever 
thought of hastening the dream of affordable housing into reality, 
Milton Wallace was relentless in his creativity and resourcefulness 
deeply aware of the fact that this project was well worth his effort. 
His focus saliently maximized his insight, understanding and commitment 
to those who lack the financial wherewithal to fulfill their wish of 
someday owning their dream house.
  Under his leadership many lives have been saved and countless 
families have been rendered whole because the opportunity of accessing 
affordable housing has been expedited. He was the proverbial lone voice 
in the wilderness in exposing his righteous indignation over the 
harrowing difficulties of hardworking individuals who just could not 
cut through the labyrinth of banking regulations impacting housing 
loans that are truly affordable. At the same time, he has been 
forthright and forceful in advocating the tenets of equal treatment 
under the law for the poor who often are unfairly subjected to 
extensive red-tape and bureaucracy. To this very day his commitment 
toward them remains firm.
  Accordingly, I will join my community in honoring him as a genuine 
leader whose dedication to affordable housing for all serves as an 
example of the difference each of us can make on behalf of the less 
fortunate. Singlehandedly he has championed a career-long commitment to 
affordable housing for all of America's families. As the noble gadfly 
that he represents, he is one to goad his colleagues toward a more 
hopeful life for our community's ordinary working families. Milton 
Wallace thoroughly understands the accouterments of power and 
leadership, sagely exercising them alongside the mandate of his 
conviction and the wisdom of his knowledge, and focusing his energies 
on the well-being of a community he has learned to love and care for so 
deeply.
  His being honored as the recipient of the First Annual Housing Heroes 
Awards truly evokes the unequivocal testimony of the respect and 
admiration he enjoys from our community. Milton Wallace indeed 
exemplifies a visionary whose courage and perseverance in the face of 
overwhelming odds appeal to our noblest character. This tribute 
dignifies his role as a community servant par excellence who gives 
credence to the generosity and optimism in the American spirit. Indeed, 
he will always serve as our indelible reminder of the nobility of 
commitment and the lasting power of public service.
  On behalf of a grateful community, I truly salute him, and I wish him 
the best!

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