[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 88 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5806-H5808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   J.L. DAWKINS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4658) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 301 Green Street in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as 
the ``J.L. Dawkins Post Office Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4658

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. J.L. DAWKINS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 301 Green Street in Fayetteville, North 
     Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``J.L. Dawkins 
     Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``J.L. Dawkins Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think I can speak for all the Members of the 
Subcommittee on Postal Service and certainly the Members of the 
Committee on Government Reform when I say we have a great deal of pride 
in the bipartisan way in which we have brought up a very sizeable 
number of these kinds of proposals, enactments that seek to designate 
various postal facilities across the Nation in remembrance and 
commemoration of the deeds of individuals from the widest possible 
range of undertaking and service in our country.
  Today certainly is no exception to that. We have before us four 
pieces of legislation. This first, of course, is H.R. 4658, which has 
been introduced by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) back 
on June 14 of this year. I want to commend the gentleman from

[[Page H5807]]

North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) for his efforts and initiative in working 
with the entire delegation from the great State of North Carolina in 
getting them to cosponsor this legislation in a unanimous effort.
  As the Clerk has designated, this bill would name the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 301 Green Street in 
Fayetteville, North Carolina, as the J.L. Dawkins Post Office building.
  The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), the primary sponsor of 
the bill, is with us today, and I know will wish to make some remarks 
in a more extensive nature as to the contributions of Mr. Dawkins, but 
I can tell Members from having the opportunity to review his resume and 
his background, as we routinely do on these initiatives, that he indeed 
fits the prescription that we have with respect to only honoring those 
individuals who have acted in very extraordinary ways to serve their 
communities.
  Mr. Dawkins, as I said, is a fine example of that, beginning in his 
high school days, where he was an active football and basketball star, 
and ultimately found what later became a lifetime calling in politics 
when he was elected to his senior class as president.
  He then went on to Wake Forest University, where he attended for 2 
years, and then returned to his hometown of Fayetteville.
  Mr. Dawkins' father was a State representative at that time. He 
passed away when his son was but 15 years old, but it is clear in 
looking at J.L. Dawkins' achievements that his father made an indelible 
impression upon him, because this fine gentleman entered public service 
and he set his sights on becoming mayor of his hometown in 
Fayetteville.
  Indeed, he began by serving on the city council there for some 6 
terms before being elected mayor in 1987. The test of any politician, 
of course, is the ability to return, not so much because of what it may 
mean politically, but rather because of the very clear signal it sends 
as to that individual's abilities and dedication in serving his or her 
constituents.
  Mr. Dawkins' reelection six times as mayor I think speaks volumes as 
to his skills, as to his willingness to contribute. In fact, he never 
lost an election, even at a time when he was being treated for cancer 
and undergoing at that time very experimental and aggressive forms of 
chemotherapy for more than a year. His constituents knew that under 
even the most adverse of circumstances, Mr. Dawkins was the man that 
they wanted to continue representing them.
  He was known for his friendly and gracious ways, and eventually 
earned the unofficial but I think important title as Fayetteville's 
``mayor for life.'' As I said, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Hayes) has acted in a very fitting way to extend this tribute to Mayor 
Dawkins as a reminder to, we hope, his family, but certainly to the 
citizens of Fayetteville of the great contributions and sacrifices that 
he made.
  This is a very worthy piece of legislation, and I would urge all of 
our colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), with my 
personal thanks and the thanks of the subcommittee for his efforts on 
this legislation.
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre), who has been a tireless worker in his 
efforts to honor a remarkable man. A number of people, men and women 
alike, have been honored in the well of the people's House, but I think 
there is no one any more appropriately deserving recognition than the 
man about whom we speak today.
  The man whom we honor today, J.L. Dawkins, was born on Thanksgiving 
Day in 1935 to Johnnie Lee and Lucille Dawkins of Vandemere. He 
graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1953. He was a star on the 
football and basketball teams, and the unanimous choice for senior 
class president.
  Mayor Dawkins' devotion and commitment to service for all citizens of 
Fayetteville is demonstrated by his quarter century of humble and 
dedicated public service.

                              {time}  1645

  His intense love for people and for his city motivated him to strive 
for quality development enhancement and beautification of his beloved 
community.
  We had the joy and privilege of his public service for 25 years, 12 
on the city council and mayor since 1987. He was elected to the city 
council in 1975 and never lost an election.
  After serving six terms on the city council, Mr. Dawkins set his 
sights on an office that he always aspired to hold, the mayor. He won 
his first mayoral election in 1987 and was elected a record six times.
  Mr. Dawkins was affectionately and appropriately dubbed 
Fayetteville's ``mayor for life.'' The passion of J.L. Dawkins for his 
city is evident in his untiring efforts to make Fayetteville a better 
place for all.
  The mayor was known for his warm, friendly and gracious manner. He 
was known as a devoted husband and father and as someone who deeply 
loved his hometown of Fayetteville.
  I would also like to offer my sincere thanks and best wishes to 
J.L.'s partner and wife of 42 years, Mary Anne Dawkins, and their two 
children, Johnny Lee Dawkins and Dawn Dawkins.
  The designation of a post office is just a small but one appropriate 
way to honor J.L. for his tireless efforts as a public servant. He 
brought honor to our form of government. He also is a man to whom we 
can look with respect and honor as a role model for the type of 
leadership that spoke volumes of him, his family, his city, his State, 
and his country.
  There are many people who pass through this life, some come and go, 
but others leave footprints on the hearts of those around them. J.L. 
Dawkins left footprints on the hearts of his community, of his State, 
and all of those who had the privilege of knowing him.
  Mr. Speaker, I recommend strong support for this resolution honoring 
mayor J.L. Dawkins.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) who serves on the 
Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Armed Services and has 
been the person on our side of the aisle most responsible for this 
legislation.
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), for the help of their 
committee and for allowing us to bring this to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4658, which is 
legislation to rename the U.S. post office building in Fayetteville, 
North Carolina as the J.L. Dawkins Post Office Building.
  I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Hayes), for all of the untiring efforts the gentleman has given 
and in helping us put this together to bring it to the floor today. I 
want to thank all the Members, both Republican and Democrat, from our 
delegation in North Carolina for their support in this manner as well.
  Born in 1935, J.L. Dawkins moved to Fayetteville 2 years later and 
lived there until his untimely death last month. In 1957, J.L. entered 
public service winning the first of six terms on the city council. He 
was elected mayor in 1987. J.L. served seven consecutive terms and 
became affectionately known as ``mayor for life'' in the City of 
Fayetteville.
  Mr. Speaker, Mayor Dawkins earned this distinction because his public 
service was exemplified by three attributes that I think we all would 
do well to follow, inspiration and imagination and innovation.
  J.L.'s decision to serve first of all was inspired by his firm belief 
in doing his best to make life better for others. His was an 
inspiration that was contagious to those who served with him and those 
who benefitted from his tireless leadership.

[[Page H5808]]

  Second, Mayor Dawkins' imagination propelled him to convey an 
attitude of home and optimism for a better Fayetteville. His was an 
imagination which led to growth and prosperity for this wonderful city.
  Third, Mayor Dawkins' innovation to build a city for all the people 
will be his lasting legacy. His was an innovative attitude that those 
of us in public service should all aspire to emulate. Truly he was a 
man of inspiration, of imagination, and of innovation.
  If we all will recall for a moment. During the writing of the U.S. 
Constitution, Benjamin Franklin looked at the back of the chair in 
which George Washington had been sitting and sought to determine if 
that half sun painted on the back of the chair was a rising or a 
setting sun. And, indeed, he stood up, of course, and in his famous 
remarks said that, sir, at long last he had arrived at the conclusion 
that it was indeed a rising sun for our Nation whose rays of influence 
now literally touch every corner of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, much like Ben Franklin, Mayor Dawkins was full of 
optimism and always could see a rising sun on the City of Fayetteville 
and the nearby Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base that so many of us 
are proud of, and as a member of the Committee on Armed Services and as 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) is, we are proud to 
represent this area of Cumberland County.
  Mr. Dawkins was always looking to expand the vision and the horizons 
for Fayetteville, and may God grant that all of us will be inspired by 
his inspiration and imagination and innovation that Mayor Dawkins 
brought to his job every day.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4658 and honor the 
life, the service and the legacy of this fine Christian gentleman, this 
distinguished public servant, a true giant of a man, a leader among 
leaders, J.L. Dawkins.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a final thanks to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) and the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) who we have heard from today and thank them for 
their cosponsorship.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge all of our colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4658.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  The motion to reconsider was laid upon the table.

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