[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE OF MICHIGAN, RICHARD H. AUSTIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shays). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, Thursday, April 26, the funeral 
services will be held in Detroit for Richard H. Austin, who served six 
terms as Secretary of State of Michigan.
  As the longest serving Secretary of State in Michigan's history, Dick 
Austin set the highest standard of service to the public. Whether it 
was highway safety or citizen participation in the electoral process, 
he was always ahead of his time.
  It was my privilege to be a teammate with Dick Austin as I ran for 
Governor and he began his first quest for statewide office, breaking 
down barriers confronting candidates for elective office in Michigan. 
He became the longest-serving black elected State official in the 
history of Michigan, as he was Michigan's first black CPA and the first 
black candidate for mayor.
  I had the joy many times of campaigning with him, hearing him in his 
quiet way spelling out his aspirations, and watching the magic worked 
by his warm smile and his friendly handshake. That smile is now gone, 
but the memories of it will always linger. His friendliness is now a 
legacy not to be forgotten.
  Dick Austin never let down the public trust, and the citizens of 
Michigan responded time after time. He was an intrinsic part of the web 
of public service in Michigan for many decades. He made Michigan a 
better place, and he will be missed by many of us as a warm friend and 
by all of us as an invaluable public servant.
  Mr. Speaker, we here today join together to mourn the passing of 
Richard H. Austin.

                          ____________________