[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E242-E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 2001

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, I would 
like to recognize several African American leaders from my district in 
California: Loretta Glickman Hillson, Ruby McKnight Williams and Ralph 
Riddle.
  Loretta Glickman Hillson began her political career in the 1960s as 
President of the Human Relations Committee at Pasadena City College. As 
President of this organization, she led the fight to ensure equal 
access for all in the Rose Queen tryouts sponsored by the Tournament of 
Roses Association. Subsequently in 1978, Hillson became the first 
African American woman to become a member of the Tournament of Roses 
Association.
  In 1977, Hillson became the first African American woman to be 
elected to the Pasadena City Council. After serving three years on the 
City Council, Hillson then became Pasadena's first African American 
vice-mayor. In 1982, Hillson won a momentous victory in the Pasadena 
mayoral election, once again breaking the color barrier by becoming the 
first African American woman to become Mayor of Pasadena. Hillson's 
selection as Mayor also marked the first time in the history of the 
United States, that a black woman became Mayor of a city with a 
population over 100,000. During her political career in Pasadena, 
Hillson was successful in making local government more accessible to 
residents in black neighborhoods, resulting in increased political 
activism and heightened interest in civil affairs among the black 
community.

[[Page E243]]

  Prior to beginning her political career, Hillson sang professionally 
with the New Christy Minstrels. She also spent several years as a choir 
director, English teacher and investment counselor. She is currently 
living in Lubbock, Texas with her husband Reverend William B. Hillson, 
whom she married in 1991. Hillson's career paved the road for a more 
equal and representative government in Pasadena. Her strength and 
character will continue to be admired by generations to come.
  Although Loretta Hillson certainly faced opposition and adversity 
during her tenure in city politics, many civil rights leaders of the 
past are responsible for the opportunities which African Americans like 
Hillson have enjoyed.
  Rudy McKnight Williams is one of those leaders whose undaunting 
courage helped shape the society we live in today. Williams was born in 
1894 in Topeka, Kansas, and as a young adult moved to California just 
as the Depression swept the nation. As a single woman in 1930, Williams 
had moved to California with the hope of becoming a kindergarten 
teacher as she had been in Topeka. Yet, the Pasadena school district 
denied employment to Williams because of her race. Although she faced 
an extremely segregated community with discriminatory laws, Williams 
refused to let her dreams be destroyed by racism and prejudice. Leaving 
her teaching career behind, Williams became a founding member of the 
Pasadena branch of the NAACP. She became a leader of the Civil Rights 
Movement in Southern California, petitioning for municipal and school 
employment, home ownership and access to public swimming pools for 
African Americans.
  In addition to her work with the NAACP, Williams also volunteered 
with the League of Women Voters, and served as Commission Chairman of 
the Pasadena Recreation Commission. She was also President of the 
Tuesday Morning Club, The Women's Democratic Club, and the Interracial 
Women's Club. Yet, her greatest service was to the NAACP where she 
served for over 65 years, including two terms as President in 1959 and 
from 1969-1982. In addition, Williams served for six years as an 
advisor to the NAACP National Youth Work Committee. During Williams' 
leadership in the NAACP, the Pasadena branch backed two precedent-
setting school integration cases in which Williams visited the U.S. 
Supreme Court to witness the decisions. Mrs. Williams was also involved 
in other organizations, including Co-Op Village, Citizens Urban Renewal 
Advisory Committee, Pasadena Head Start, and the Pasadena Commission on 
Human Needs and Opportunities. Williams remained active with the NAACP 
as President Emeritus of the NAACP Executive Board until her death in 
1999.
  Williams contributed much to the spirit of Pasadena. Her community 
activism and work with our youth will be sorely missed. Yet, Williams' 
legacy lives on as Pasadena pays her tribute in an annual awards 
banquet in her name honoring those who exhibit excellence in community 
service.
  In addition to Loretta Glickman Hillson and Ruby McKnight Williams, I 
would like to honor Ralph Riddle, another Pasadena community leader who 
assisted in changing the Pasadena Police Department. Ralph Riddle was 
born on June 9, 1916 in Pasadena, California. He attended Pasadena High 
School and then completed his university education in Arizona. In 1942, 
Ralph joined the military and spent four years as an Army Sergeant 
stationed throughout the world. After returning to Pasadena, Riddle 
joined the Pasadena Police Department on November 12, 1946, becoming 
the first African American police officer in the history of the 
Pasadena Police Department.
  Although Riddle was assigned to various units within the Pasadena 
Police Department, his first love was community relations. Prior to the 
late 1960s, the Pasadena Police Department was without a community 
relations department. Under the leadership of Police Chief Bob McGowan, 
Riddle helped establish a community relations department and was 
subsequently chosen to lead the unit. In this position, Riddle acted as 
a liaison between the Pasadena Police Department and the African 
American community. He remained in this position until 1974, when he 
retired from the Pasadena Police Department and became the Pasadena 
City College security chief until the early 1980s. In addition to 
Riddle's community service efforts, he volunteered extensively with the 
Pasadena NAACP.
  Although Mr. Riddle passed away in January of 1990, his life 
continues to touch the Pasadena community through his shining example 
and through the career of his daughter-in-law, Lt. Phlunte Riddle, the 
first African American Sergeant and First African American Lieutenant 
in the history of the Pasadena Police Department.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in Black History Month as 
well as to pay tribute to Loretta Glickman Hillson, Ruby McKnight 
Williams and Ralph Riddle. I am extremely proud of the rich history in 
my district and of the leadership, humanity, and compassion exhibited 
by Mrs. Hillson, Mrs. Williams and Mr. Riddle. In closing, I would like 
to wish Loretta and Reverend Hillson the very best. To the family of 
Ruby McKnight Williams and Ralph Riddle, a grateful community gives 
thanks that both Ruby's and Ralph's lives touched so many. And to Lt. 
Phlunte Riddle, I wish you the very best in all your endeavors.

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