[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING EMILY WATKINS SPICER AS A GREAT LIVING CINCINNATIAN

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                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2002

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Emily Watkins 
Spicer, an educator and community leader, who will be honored on 
February 20 by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a Great 
Living Cincinnatian. The recipients for this prestigious award are 
selected on the basis of their achievement in the world of work, but 
the criteria also includes an awareness of others; civic service; 
leadership; and distinctive accomplishments.
  Emily Watkins Spicer grew up in Cincinnati during the 1940s--a time 
when many young African-American women were not able to realize their 
career goals. At Withrow High School and later at the University of 
Cincinnati, she remembers some teachers would not call on her in class. 
Never allowing herself to become bitter, Emily turned her formidable 
energy and talent to becoming a teacher, her lifelong dream.
  After graduating from Withrow in 1944, Emily earned a bachelor's 
degree in teaching from the University of Cincinnati in 1948. She 
worked for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission for ten years, then 
accepted a job teaching physical education at Lincoln Heights High 
School. While earning her master's degree in guidance counseling at 
U.C., she taught health and physical education at Heinold Junior High. 
Completing her master's degree in 1963, she held teaching and 
counseling positions at Aiken High and Woodward High. In 1971, she was 
named assistant principal at Woodward.
  In 1976, Emily became principal of Merry Junior High in Mt. Adams, 
where she had the task of supervising 1,000 seventh and eighth graders 
who were bused from other parts of the city. Her accomplishments were 
noticed by the Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools, James N. 
Jacobs, who named Emily principal of Taft High School. Emily's 
appointment marked the first time a woman was named senior high school 
principal for the Cincinnati Public Schools. At Taft, Emily was 
credited with giving the high school--then in deplorable physical 
condition--a new spirit as well as a new look.
  Although she retired in 1983, Emily remains active in community and 
educational pursuits. She served four years on the Greenhills-Forest 
Park School Board, and helped open a charter school, the Hamilton 
County Math and Science Academy. In 1979, Emily was recognized as a 
``Woman of the Year'' by the Cincinnati Enquirer.
  All of us in Cincinnati area are grateful for Emily Watkins Spicer's 
dedication to our community, and congratulate her on being recognized 
as a Great Living Cincinnatian.

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