[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 137 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1883-E1884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO LEONARD F. SPRINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2001

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Leonard 
F. Springs II, a native of South Carolina who will be honored this 
evening during the annual meeting of the South Carolina State 
Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP). Tonight's Leadership Tribute is a component of the 2001 
Civil Rights Conference, which commemorates the 60th annual Convention 
of the South Carolina State NAACP. I am pleased to join the South 
Carolina State NAACP in honoring my good friend and ``soulmate'', 
``Lenny'' Springs.
  Leonard Springs, II--Senior Vice-President of Corporate Relations at 
First Union Corporation--is a graduate of Voorhees College, Denmark, 
South Carolina and the University of South Carolina. He has dedicated 
more than 25 years of his life to developing and managing community 
reinvestment programs in the banking industry and non-profits sector. 
Dollars and Sense Magazine affirms that he is ``one of America's top 
corporate officers.'' In 1988, Mr. Springs became Vice President, 
Corporate Affairs Relations at First Union National Bank of Georgia and 
held that position until 1990. During his service in Atlanta and with 
his energetic leadership, Mr. Springs made a truly significant impact 
throughout the minority business community. As a board member of the 
Atlanta Mortgage Consortium, he initiated efforts to make affordable 
housing accessible to low-income citizens. He also served as Chairman 
of the Economic Development Committee for the city of Atlanta Main 
Street-Auburn Avenue Project.
  Included among his many achievements, are designing and implementing 
programs, procedures and practices to ensure compliance with 
regulations of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA); creating a CRA 
training module in conjunction with the American Banking Association; 
developing a number of commercial lending programs for small 
businesses; developing a CRA procedure manual; and authoring a column 
for ``Money Matters'' magazine. Mr. Springs is recognized as a

[[Page E1884]]

leading authority on banking information throughout the Carolinas.
  Mr. Springs embarked upon his professional career in 1974 as a Field 
Representative of the Labor Education Advancement Program of the 
Columbia Urban League in South Carolina. Two years later he became 
Executive Director of the Greenville Urban League where he remained 
with the Greenville Urban League for seven years. He later became 
Assistant Vice President of Community Relations for Southern Bank & 
Trust in Greenville. Mr. Springs would further advance his career by 
accepting a similar position with First Union National Bank of South 
Carolina in 1985.
  Serving as a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, he lead 
the search to obtain the association's current national president, 
Kwisei Mfume. Mr. Springs professional affiliations and board 
appointments, past and present, are reflective of his outstanding 
service to various communities and include: Channel WTVI Board of 
Directors which oversees the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Broadcasting 
Authority; Charlotte Auditorium-Coliseum Convention Authority Board of 
Directors; Presidential Administrative Appointee to the US Department 
of the Treasury Bank Secrecy Advisory Group; Vice Chairman of the South 
Carolina Human Affairs Commission during my tenure as Commissioner; 
Chairman, NAACP Special Contribution Fund Board of Trustees, Past 
President, Founder and Board Member of the Charlotte Chapter of 100 
Black Men, Inc.; Board Member of Central Carolina Urban League; 
National Alliance of Business Southeast Regional Board; Business Policy 
Review Council; Board of Directors, Carolinas Minority Supplier 
Development Council Inc.; Past President, Voorhees College National 
Alumni Association; member, National Urban Bankers Association; 
Southern Region Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America; Barber-
Scotia College Board of Visitors; Johnson C. Smith University Board of 
Visitors; Elizabeth City State University Board of Trustees; Florida 
Memorial College Board of Directors; South Carolina State University 
Foundations Board of Directors; and Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC, Board 
of Directors.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring Leonard F. 
Springs II, a personal friend and former employer, for his 
contributions to the business community, involvements in community 
revitalization, and overall public service. I sincerely thank Mr. 
Springs for the dedicated service he has provided to the citizens of 
South Carolina and the noteworthy contributions he has made to minority 
business development throughout the nation. I congratulate him on his 
recognition by the South Carolina Conference of Branches of the NAACP 
and wish him good luck and Godspeed in all of his future endeavors.

                          ____________________