[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 105 (Monday, July 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CLARENCE SURGEON: A POINT OF LIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS

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                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute Clarence M. Surgeon who 
will be honored on Saturday, July 27th for his past service to his 
country and the community; and for his continuing activism on behalf of 
worthwhile causes. Mr. Surgeon is a POINT-OF-LIGHT for all Americans.
  Clarence M. Surgeon had a distinguished 39-year career with the New 
York Police Department. He was appointed to the force in April 1955 as 
a Police Officer and rose to the rank of Detective 1st Grade. Clarence 
has received many citations for excellence in the performance of his 
duties. He is a native of Brooklyn, New York, still residing in the 
neighborhood of his youth. He is one of five children of Bessie and 
Lesline Surgeon. His siblings are Lesline Ethel, Aubrey and Winifred. 
He was married to the late Helen Mayfield. He honorably served in the 
United States Army during the Korean War and rose to the rank of 
Sergeant First Class. He was discharged from the Army in 1953 after two 
years of service. He is an accomplished pilot and enjoys membership in 
the Negro Airmen International.
  In 1979 Clarence earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration 
from Long Island University, NY. He is a member of the National Honor 
Society for Public Affairs and Administration (PI Alpha Alpha). As a 
student in pursuit of his bachelors degree at John Jay College of 
Criminal justice, Clarence had the opportunity to go abroad to study 
and patrol with the London Police Department. In high school he was a 
football player and earned recognition for his athletic ability. Upon 
entering the criminal justice profession, Clarence continued to exhibit 
his tenacious ability, now as a criminal investigator. He successfully 
completed the Criminal Investigator's Course commanded by the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. He served as a Commander of the Confidential 
Investigation Unit and was responsible for the development of 
documentation designed to prevent internal theft from various state and 
local revenue collecting agencies; and represented the NYPD as a 
criminal investigator in many federal, state and city inter-agency 
investigations. His knowledge as a criminal investigator qualified him 
to lecture on behalf of the NYPD in various cities such as Atlanta, 
Boston and Washington, D.C. His civic activities include: serving as a 
marshal at the March on Washington, August 28,1963; representing the 
Cerberean Society (Now the New York City Police Guardians) standing 
alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial, as he 
delivered his now famous ``I Have A Dream'' speech. In 1983, he founded 
and served as Director of the Guardian Association and Anti-drug 
program located in Community School District 16, (Bedford-Stuyvesant). 
In 1985 Clarence founded and coordinated the National Black Police 
Association and the Grand Council of Guardians-NYPD Inquiry Panel. The 
panel was formulated to review procedures used by the city to hire 
minority candidates to the position of police officer. In his 
community, he is an activist involved in all aspects of service to 
improve the quality of life for his neighbors. He is a member of the 
Black Community Council of Crown Heights; the Steering Committee for 
the 11th Congressional District; President of the 100 Men for 
Congressman Major Owens; a member of the Vanguard Independent 
Democratic Association and the NAACP. For youths of the community, one 
of his activities included Founder and Commissioner of the Interborough 
Youth Sports Complex which included approximately 1100 youths in the 
tri-state area. Other organizational affiliations include: National 
Black Police Association (NBPA) Northeast Region; Past Chairperson and 
Past Vice-chairperson; Transit Guardians, NY-Past Secretary, Recording 
Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms; Grand Council of Guardians, NY-
Historian. Clarence was affiliated with the National Conference of 
Black Lawyers.
  Clarence states: His main purpose is to fight for the rights of Black 
people, keeping in mind, ``now is the time tomorrow is not promised.''
  We particularly salute Clarence Surgeon for his continuing volunteer 
activities despite a series of personal hardships. After enduring 
several serious operations and experiencing the death of his wife, 
Clarence has returned to the arena to continue working for the less 
fortunate and the community. For being a great role model for unselfish 
dedication we are proud to salute Clarence M. Surgeon as a POINT-OF-
LIFE for all Americans.

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