[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NAMING OF ORLANDO POST OFFICE AFTER ARTHUR ``PAPPY'' KENNEDY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have the 
opportunity to offer legislation designating the post office located at 
440 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando as the Arthur ``Pappy'' 
Kennedy Post Office Building.
  This bill, H.R. 4399, was introduced last Tuesday night. Mr. Kennedy 
was Orlando's first African American city commissioner. He was a 
tireless advocate for the dispossessed and the poor. He died on March 
28 and is survived by his children, Arthur Kennedy and Shirley Waters, 
six granddaughters and three grandsons, 21 great grandchildren, and 
numerous cousins, close relatives and friends.
  Mr. Kennedy was a public servant who worked with many organizations, 
including the Meals on Wheels, the United Negro College Fund and the 
NAACP. He was never one to talk about his accomplishments, so I would 
like to take the opportunity to do so.
  As an elected official, his negotiating skills were integral in the 
building of Hankins Park, and the landscaping of Parramore Street. He 
organized the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce and served on the Jones 
High School Parent-Teacher Association.
  In 1992, the Southwest Orlando Jaycees honored Mr. Kennedy with the 
Lifetime Achievement Award and named the Prayer Breakfast in his honor. 
He dedicated his life to serving others, as evidenced by the Preserve 
African American Society honoring him as their Trailblazer Award.
  Mr. Speaker, Orlando has lost a fine public servant as a result of 
the passing of Mr. Kennedy. Born in River Junction, Florida, in 1913, 
Pappy Kennedy moved to Orlando at age 10. He was a graduate of Bethune 
Cookman College and an impressive public servant whose decency will 
long be remembered by his friends and family.
  It is with great pride that I urge my colleagues to help me designate 
the aforementioned post office in Orlando as the Arthur ``Pappy'' 
Kennedy Post Office Building.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to make a special note that the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Hastings) will be making comments and submitting a 
statement for the Record. I also want to encourage others to join me on 
Sunday, Mother's Day, to participate in the Mother's Day March. There 
is no better way to honor mothers than a salute to mothers in support 
of pending legislation before this body for gun safety and to protect 
our children.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have the opportunity to offer 
legislation designating the Post Office located at 440 South Orange 
Blossom Trail in Orlando as the ``Arthur `Pappy' Kennedy Post Office 
Building.''
  This bill, H.R. 4399, was introduced last Tuesday night. Mr. Arthur 
`Pappy' Kennedy was Orlando's first African American City Commissioner 
and he was a tireless advocate for the dispossessed and the poor. He 
died on March 28 and is survived by his children Arthur Kennedy and 
Shirley Waters; six granddaughters and three grandsons; twenty-one 
great grandchildren and numerous cousins, close relatives, friends and 
acquaintances.
  Mr. Kennedy was a public servant who worked with many organizations 
including Meals on Wheels, the United Negro College Fund, and the 
NAACP. He was never one to talk about his accomplishments, so I would 
like to take the opportunity to do so. As an elected official, his 
negotiating skills were integral in the building of Hankins Park, and 
the landscaping of Parramore Street. He organized the Orlando Negro 
Chamber of Commerce and served on the Jones High School Parents-
Teachers Association.
  In 1992, the Southwest Orlando Jaycees honored ``Pappy'' with the 
Lifetime Achievement Award and named the Prayer Breakfast in his honor. 
He dedicated his life to serving others as evidenced by the Preserve 
African American Society (PAST) honoring him with their Trailblazer 
Award.
  Mr. Speaker, Orlando has lost a fine public servant as a result of 
the passing of Arthur `Pappy' Kennedy. Born in River Junction, Florida 
in 1913, Pappy Kennedy moved to Orlando at age ten. He was a graduate 
of Bethune Cookman College and an impressive public servant whose 
decency will long be remembered by his friends and family.
  It is with a great deal of pride that I urge my colleagues to help me 
designate the aforementioned Post Office in Orlando as the ``Arthur 
`Pappy' Kennedy Post Office Building.'' Thank you and with that I would 
like to yield the remainder of the time to the distinguished gentleman 
from Florida, Congressman Hastings.

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