[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO DOROTHY STEVENS ENOMOTO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2001

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Dorothy Stevens 
Enomoto, the first African American woman to manage a California 
Department of Corrections institution. Mrs. Enomoto, one of 
Sacramento's most notable citizens, will receive an honorary Doctor of 
Humane Letters degree from California State University, Sacramento on 
May 25th, 2001. As her friends and family gather to celebrate Mrs. 
Enomoto's outstanding achievement, I ask all of my colleagues to join 
with me in saluting this truly remarkable citizen of Sacramento.
  Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Enomoto graduated from Booker T. 
Washington Senior High School, where she shared valedictorian honors 
with the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mrs. Enomoto attended Clarke 
College, now Clarke Atlanta University, where she attained Senior 
status before she was forced to withdraw for family and economic 
reasons.
  In hopes of securing a better future for herself and her children, 
Mrs. Enomoto moved to California. In time, Mrs. Enomoto obtained a 
Correctional Officer's position with the California Department of 
Corrections, where she rose through the ranks and became a trailblazing 
pioneer. During her tenure at the California Department of Corrections, 
Mrs. Enomoto became the first African American woman to manage a 
California Department of Corrections institution, the Women's Civil 
Addict Unit at the California Rehabilitation Center. In addition, Mrs. 
Enomoto was also the first African American woman to hold the position 
of Deputy Director in the Department.
  Following her retirement, Mrs. Enomoto has remained active and 
dedicated to making Sacramento a better place for all. Mrs. Enomoto is 
currently a Commissioner on the Sacramento City and County Human 
Rights/Fair Housing Commission, having served as Chair in 1997. In 
addition, Mrs. Enomoto is also co-chair of the Greater Sacramento Area 
Hate Crimes Task Force. Mrs. Enomoto's considerable expertise on the 
issue of hate crime prevention prompted her appointment by President 
Clinton to a national hate crime conference.
  Widely touted as one of Sacramento's most cherished and prominent 
citizens, Mrs. Enomoto has been recognized with numerous awards over 
the years. Some of these include the United Negro College Fund 
Frederick V. Patterson ``Outstanding Individual of the Year'' award in 
1994 and her induction into the African American Criminal Justice 
``Hall of Fame'' in 1994. In addition, she is the recipient of the 
``Bridgebuilder'' award from the Jewish Community Relations Council in 
1997 and the 1994 Sacramento YWCA ``Outstanding Woman of the Year'' 
award.
  Mr. Speaker, as Mrs. Dorothy Enomoto's friends and family gather for 
the commencement exercises, I am honored to pay tribute to one of 
Sacramento's most honorable citizens. Her successes are unparalleled, 
and it is a great honor for me to have the opportunity to pay tribute 
to her contributions to the city of Sacramento. I ask all of my 
colleagues to join with me in wishing Mrs. Enomoto continued success in 
all her future endeavors.

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