[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2331-E2332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO MR. RALPH PACKINGHAM ON HIS UNFLINCHING COMMITMENT TO 
                      MIAMI'S INNERCITY RESIDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a great honor to pay 
tribute to one of Miami-Dade County's unsung heroes, Mr. Ralph 
Packingham. Recently, people from all walks of life came together to 
thank and pay homage to this incessant gadfly for the many years he has 
devoted to the less fortunate of our innercity neighborhoods.
  As a Korean War veteran, he served honorably in heeding our nation's 
call to duty toward safeguarding our freedom and security. After his 
stint with our Armed Forces, he attended professional schools of beauty 
culture and hair styling in New York, expanding his knowledge and 
expertise on the subject with the Helene Curtis Laboratories. Though a 
North Carolinian by birth, he came down to Miami to live and make his 
mark on our community's well-being.

[[Page E2332]]

Dubbed simply as the irrepressible Mr. Ralph, he involved himself in 
virtually creating the esthetic appearance of those who came to his 
beauty salon to design a better look of themselves and thus achieve a 
more confident self-esteem.
  Out of his hard work and diligence, coupled with his business acumen 
and personal warmth, his fame as Miami's hairstylist par excellence 
emerged. Under the aegis of his salon, Hairstyles by Mr. Ralph, he 
became the legendary cosmetologist whose advice on the challenges of 
beauty culture and intricacies of hairstyling was sought far and wide.
  His tremendous entrepreneurship ultimately propelled him to his 
engagement with the well-being of Miami's innercity residents. In 1983 
he was appointed President of the Allapartah Merchants Association 
where he superbly managed the development and construction of a 
private/public business venture toward the retailing of beauty products 
and the consolidation of a series of pharmaceutical operations. While 
he exercised optimum vigilance over the business aspects of the 
Association, he became involved with the overall amelioration of the 
residents in the innercity.
  Sensitized by the awesome hurdles which poor families have to contend 
with in getting affordable housing and access much-needed capital, Mr. 
Ralph Packingham became the Executive Director of the Word of Life 
Community Development Corporation under the auspices of the Word of 
Life Missionary Baptist Church. At the most recent gathering, in 
Liberty City tendered to acknowledge his countless contributions to our 
community, the Rev. Richard P. Dunn II, his pastor, described him as 
``. . . a man among men (who) has impacted the lives of thousands of 
people.''
  His commitment to affordable housing paved the way for his becoming 
the driving force of detached, affordable single family homes in 
Liberty City. The first two of these affordable homes were dedicated 
last Monday, December 10, 2001. More poor families from Miami's 
innercity will soon move in and live in their respective dream homes 
via the low-cost affordable housing initiative born out of the vision 
and fortitude of this outstanding community leader.
  Ever since I have known this quintessential trailblazer who leads by 
the fortitude of his exemplary sacrifices, Mr. Ralph has always been at 
the forefront of ensuring equality of opportunity in our community. 
Countless others have been touched by his unflinching advocacy for 
those who could least fend for themselves. Though currently ailing and 
confined to a wheel chair, this 72-year old dynamic personality goes 
about his leadership role over the faith-based Word of Life CDC in 
reaching out to poor families, engendering in them genuine hope and 
optimism.
  Buoyed by his sterling Faith in a providential God, he has been and 
continues to be our community's superlative steward and consummate 
activist. He is a decent and caring man who thoroughly understands the 
accouterments of power and leadership by exercising them alongside the 
mandate of his conviction and the wisdom of his conscience. The 
uniqueness of his modus operandi genuinely personifies his credo that 
``* * *  you gotta do a lot of praying and a little politicking'' to 
ameliorate the lives of others.
  Mr. Ralph Packingham epitomizes a refreshing advocate whose 
unflinching compassion and resilient spirit appeal to our noblest 
character. Indeed, I feel so privileged but deeply humbled to represent 
him in the hallowed halls of Congress.

                          ____________________