[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 19, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO ALONZO FRANKLIN HERNDON

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, shortly after the turn of the 20th 
century, Alonzo Franklin Herndon, a former slave, founded the Atlanta 
Mutual Insurance Association, which would later become the Atlanta Life 
Insurance Company. Today, Atlanta Life holds assets of over $200 
million, operates in 17 states, and stands as one of the largest 
African-American owned and operated financial institutions in the 
Nation.
  Born on a farm near Social Circle, GA, in 1858, Herndon's beginnings 
were anything but auspicious. He spent his early life in field labor 
and sharecropping. However, he ultimately learned the barbering trade 
and flourished. By the turn of the century, he owned and operated the 
world renowned Crystal Palace barbershop on Peachtree Street in 
downtown Atlanta. By the time he founded the Atlanta Mutual Insurance 
Association, Alonzo Herndon was one of the wealthiest African-Americans 
in the Nation.
  Alonzo Herndon's vision for his company transcended conventional 
corporate thinking. Mr. Herndon was not only worried about the bottom 
line, but about the health and livelihood of African-Americans 
throughout the Atlanta area. The Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association 
was formed after Mr. Herndon purchased a small benevolent association 
for $140, and acquired and reorganized two other companies in September 
of 1905. By providing sick and death benefits to African-Americans for 
affordable weekly assessments of 5 to 25 cents, the Atlanta Life 
Insurance Company defined corporate responsibility to the community.
  Today, we honor the Atlanta Life Insurance Company on the occasion of 
their founder's day birthday celebration. Specifically, we join Atlanta 
Life in honoring the barber profession, without which Alonzo Herndon 
would not have been able to create the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 
Moreover, we look forward to the 2005 Founder's Celebration 
commemorating the 100th anniversary of Atlanta Life's founding. In an 
age where corporate malfeasance is too often in the news, it gives me 
great pride to celebrate a company that has succeeded financially 
without compromising its values. I wish the Atlanta Life Insurance 
Company many more years of success.

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