[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MR. ISAAC WASHINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2002

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Isaac 
Washington, who on June 15, 2002 was bestowed the National Newspaper 
Association's Publisher of the Year Award on behalf of the award 
winning Black Media Group. Mr. Washington was born in Columbia, S.C. 
and grew up in public housing, Allen-Benedict Court. But his 
experiences were not without love. Surrounded by the love of his 
parents and four siblings, brothers Eddie, Jeremiah and Oliver, Jr. and 
a sister, Ethel, young Isaac learned the value of reaching out to 
others.
  A graduate of C.A. Johnson High School, he earned a bachelor's degree 
from Benedict College. His career began in the media business at 
Columbia's WIS-TV, where he served as Assistant Program Director and 
Director of Sales Traffic and Operations. He pioneered the Awareness 
program, WIS-TV's foray into minority affairs reporting and 
programming.
  After his stint at WIS, Washington entered a partnership to publish 
Black News. His diverse media experience prepared him for his 
leadership role as President/Publisher of the South Carolina Black 
Media Group, SCBMG. Within a few years, SCBMG began marketing its 
product statewide, and eventually evolved into eight newspapers 
published in virtually every major market of the Palmetto State and in 
Fayetteville, N.C. In 1997, SCBMG consolidated its newspapers into one 
statewide publication, The Black News. Within the last three years, 
Black News has twice been a finalist for the coveted A. Philip Randolph 
Messenger Award, which honors Black newspapers for journalistic 
excellence in the field of civil rights.
  Washington's community outreach also extends far beyond the walls of 
the newspaper office. He is a member of Zion Baptist Church in 
Columbia, where he serves as an ordained deacon and member of the Men's 
Committee. He also serves on the boards of the American Red Cross, the 
Will Lou Gray Foundation, and is a commissioner with the S.C. State 
Housing Authority. He is a lifelong member of Alpha Phi Alpha 
Fraternity, Inc. and the NAACP. He has been bestowed many honors, 
including an honorary doctorate of Religious Education from the C.E. 
Graham Bible College, and has been honored with a mural on the Columbia 
Housing Authority's Wall of Fame.
  Washington established the S.C. Black Media Foundation, a nonprofit 
organization that provides opportunities for youth in the community 
through tutorial and job training programs, and provides public housing 
and other services for the elderly. Mr. Washington, a longtime personal 
friend, was presented his award during the Merit Awards Dinner, at 
NNPA's 62nd Annual convention, held in Jacksonville, FL.
  He is married to the former Clannie Hart, and has one son, Isaac, 
Jr., who is a student at Benedict College.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in honoring an 
outstanding South Carolinian whose dedication to his profession and 
family is unparalleled. I wish him good luck and Godspeed.

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