[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF THEODORE M. BERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2000

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Theodore M. 
Berry, a local hero who passed away on October 15, 2000. Over the past 
century, Ted had a profound impact on the Cincinnati area, and our 
nation, as a civic leader and civil rights advocate.
  Ted was born in Maysville, KY, on November 8, 1905. Shortly 
thereafter, he moved to Cincinnati, graduating as the valedictorian 
from Cincinnati's Woodward High School in June, 1924. He went on to the 
University of Cincinnati Law School, where he paid his way by working 
at local steel mills. He graduated in 1931 and was admitted to the Ohio 
Bar in 1932.
  In the 1930's and 1940's, Ted was a prominent leader at the NAACP 
Cincinnati branch, where twice he was elected president. In 1939, he 
was appointed Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor. From 1947 to 1961, 
he served on the Ohio Committee for Civil Rights Legislation, focusing 
his attention on equal employment and fair housing issues. During this 
period, he also began a career as a Cincinnati City Council member.
  Over the course of his life, Ted worked tirelessly to fight poverty, 
and, in 1964, he created Cincinnati's first Community Action 
Commission, which enabled Cincinnati to participate with President 
Lyndon Johnson's new Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). A year 
later, President Johnson appointed Ted as head of OEO's Community 
Action Programs. Under Ted's leadership, innovative and effective 
programs such as Head Start were established. When he returned to 
Cincinnati, he became the city's first African-American mayor, serving 
from 1972 to 1975. Since then, he has reappeared in the public 
spotlight helping to advance the causes of numerous political and civic 
organizations.
  Ted was honored by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a 
Great Living Cincinnatian in 1984. In 1999, Cincinnati City Council 
approved funds to construct the Theodore M. Berry International 
Friendship Park along Cincinnati's riverfront. Last February, Applause! 
magazine honored Ted as the ``Person of the Century'' at the 10th 
annual Imagemaker Awards at the Arnoff Center for the Arts. In March, 
the Hamilton County Commissioners approved funds to construct the 
future Theodore M. Berry Way in Cincinnati.
  Ted is survived by his wife, Johnnie Mae, and their three children: 
Theodore Berry, Jr., Faith Berry, and Gail Berry West. He was a 
dedicated public servant and strong advocate for civil rights, and, 
although he will be dearly missed, his accomplishments, leadership, and 
compassion will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________