[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MARVIN SEDWAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the official 
opening of the Marvin Sedway Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. This 
state-of-the-art facility provides an enduring tribute to one of 
Nevada's most esteemed and courageous political figures.
  Marvin Sedway was a man with a ferocious spirit. His language was 
rough and his determination was fearless, but in everything that he 
did, Marvin was dedicated to the betterment of Nevada. As a State 
assemblyman he demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the children of 
his State and made their education his top priority.
  Marvin Sedway moved to Las Vegas from New York City when he was 13 
years old. In 1946 he graduated from Las Vegas High School and then he 
attended the University of Nevada at Reno. After completing his 
professional education at Pacific University in 1954, Marvin worked as 
an optometrist for almost 40 years. Throughout his career, Marvin 
Sedway's compassion and generosity were evident. It was widely known 
that Marvin volunteered thousands of hours to serve handicapped and 
underprivileged children who could not afford proper care.
  Even before his election to the Nevada State Assembly in 1983, Marvin 
was an integral part of the Nevada political scene. In 1958 Marvin was 
a member of the Democratic Party Reform Commission, and in 1968 he 
became the State chairman of the ``Humphrey for President'' campaign. 
Marvin was also selected by several Nevadan Governors, including my 
good friend Governor Mike O'Callaghan, to serve on various State 
boards. He was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Rural Health 
Emergency Services and an advisory board member for Clark County 
Community College. In addition, he served as secretary of the State 
Board of Optometric Examiners and president of the Clark County Mental 
Health Society.
  As a member of the Nevada State Assembly, Marvin gained prominence 
across the State for his service as chairman of the Assembly Ways and 
Means Committee, which allowed him to determine which bills would 
survive and which bills would not move forward. Marvin used his coveted 
position to advocate for those who often are voiceless including 
welfare mothers and low-income workers and families. In addition, while 
many others shied away from unpopular tax increases, Marvin's courage 
led him to support increases that would fund the State's expanding 
services and social programs.
  Marvin's greatest cause was improving the education of Nevada's 
school children. He was a great believer in the importance of a strong 
public education system and continuously pushed for increasing funds 
for State schools. Throughout his 8 years in the Nevada State Assembly 
and even before then, he worked to ensure that Nevada's children had 
the resources to improve their lives, receive a solid education, and 
fulfill the American dream.
  When Marvin Sedway died of lung cancer on July 7, 1990 at the age of 
61, Nevada lost a great leader. But as the doors of the Marvin Sedway 
Middle School officially open, we can celebrate his legacy as a public 
servant committed to education. Thousands of young Nevadans will be 
educated in this remarkable facility, fulfilling Marvin's hopes and 
ambitions for Nevada's children.

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