[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THORNTON SISTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 14, 2001

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call attention once again 
to a group of women who never cease to amaze me. This month marks the 
tenth anniversary of The Thornton Sisters Foundation, Inc. I have been 
following these women's struggles and accomplishments for a long time 
now, and after a decade of success I feel it an honor to formally 
salute these women a second time.
  On Sunday June 10, 2001 the Thornton Sisters Foundation held an 
awards ceremony for the twenty-five finalists of the Donald and Itasker 
Thornton Memorial Scholarship and their family members. The Grand View 
Ballroom at the Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune, New Jersey 
hosted this occasion.
  The Thornton Sisters have an interesting history that led to the 
creation of this foundation. Their parents, Donald and Itasker, moved 
in 1948 from Harlem New York City to Long Branch, New Jersey. The 
Thornton move was so that their children would be able to receive a 
better education. After purchasing a lot on Ludlow Street, Mr. Thornton 
became the first African-American man in the area to receive a 
mortgage.
  Mrs. Thornton having given birth to six children, all of whom are 
girls, became a domestic. Mr. Thornton worked three jobs at Fort 
Monmouth, Eatontown to provide for his children.
  Mrs. Thornton was unable to attend college herself. However, she 
pushed all of her daughters to accomplish something that she would 
never be able to do. Mrs. Thornton was correct in her foreseeing that 
women of the future would need to be able to be financially stable on 
their own.
  With the help of scholarships and a weekend family music group all 
six daughters graduated from Monmouth University in Long Branch. Their 
music ensemble was well known and packed the house of the Apollo 
Theatre in Harlem. Having learned early on the importance of an 
education, these six sisters now want to give the same opportunity they 
had to other young women.
  This story has special significance to me, as I am a citizen of Long 
Branch. Rita Thornton and I both attended Long Branch high school at 
the same time and actually participated in speech and debate together. 
I could tell, even back then, that her and her sisters share a true 
commitment to education and excellence--now knowing all of them 
received straight A's throughout high school.
  These women are truly a group that needs to be admired and praised. I 
want to personally thank the Thornton sisters on their ten years of 
providing scholarships for young minority women of the state of New 
Jersey.

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