[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   JESSEE J. McCRARY, JR. ESQUIRE: A LIFETIME OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND 
                        SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honoring one of Florida's 
most admired public servants and civil rights leaders, the Honorable 
Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. This Saturday, February 1, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. at 
the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, a host of friends and 
admirers will join his family in celebrating the legend that he 
genuinely symbolizes.
  This honoree epitomizes the preeminence of a gentleman and a devout 
Christian. In 1956, he attended Florida A & M University with a major 
in political science. He went on to pursue his legal studies at the 
Florida A & M University as well. He was subsequently honored with 
unprecedented accomplishments never before achieved by an African-
American in the history of our state.
  Among his most prominent achievements was his being the first 
African-American to be appointed Assistant Attorney General for the 
State of Florida in 1967, the first African-American to argue before 
the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, the first African-American to sit on a 
statutory Court of Appeals in Florida's Industrial Relations 
Commissions in 1971, the first African-American Secretary of State of 
Florida in 1978, and the first African-American from Florida to be 
listed in the Best Lawyers in America in 1988.
  Ever since I've known this giant of a leader, Mr. McCrary has always 
been at the forefront of ensuring equality of opportunity for everyone 
in our community and throughout Florida. At the same time, his untiring 
advocacy in adhering to the mandate of equal treatment under the law 
not only in the halls of academia, but also in every segment of 
government agency, has become legendary. In fact, countless others from 
every color, creed or gender have been touched by his genuine 
commitment to their well-being, especially those who could least fend 
for themselves.

  By his passionate advocacy for due process and the rule of law, he 
won landmark cases he argued before the Supreme Court. The most 
memorable cases that now emblazon his legal triumphs are the right to 
have a jury of less than twelve persons and the prohibition for the 
state from dismissing jurors on the basis of race alone. The decisions 
handed down by the Court now form part and parcel of the history of our 
state's legal precedents.
  Aside from his role as our state's legal luminary, Mr. McCrary has 
been the consummate activist who abides by the dictum that those who 
have less in life through no fault of their own deserve to be helped by 
the government, be it at the local, state, or federal level. It is no 
wonder that the numerous accolades with which he has been honored by 
various organizations saliently represent an unequivocal testimony of 
the utmost respect and admiration he enjoys from our community.
  Imbued with a down-to-earth common sense, he has also been gifted 
with the rare wisdom of being able to discern the strengths and 
limitations of those empowered to govern. This brand of leadership has 
been tested time and time again during his stint as Chairman of the 
Florida Correction Review Commission, the Florida Education Standards 
Commission, the Select Committee to Review Competency Testing in 
Florida, the Gubernatorial Commission for the Study of Capital 
Punishment and Judicial Reform, and the Constitution Revision 
Commission.
  The acumen of his intelligence and the depth of his sensitivity were 
felt at a time when Miami needed to put in perspectives the agony of 
disenfranchised African-Americans and other minorities yearning to 
belong and participate in the fruition of the American Dream. When 
government and community leaders met to douse the still-burning embers 
of the Miami riots in the early 1980s, Mr. McCrary was the leader whose 
firm voice of reason and understanding succinctly articulated his credo 
that one has got to learn and live with one another in the community, 
or shamefully reap the grapes of wrath from those who have been left 
out of the ambiance of the rule of law and due process.
  He thoroughly understood the accoutrements of power and leadership, 
and he sagely exercised them alongside the mandate of his conviction 
and the wisdom of his conscience, focusing them upon the good of the 
community he has learned to love and care for so deeply. This 
stewardship motivated by his Faith in God defines the authenticity of 
his public service as exemplified by what he learned as a child that: 
``. . . it is better to give than to receive.''
  His word is his bond to those of us who know him. He has exuded this 
bond not only in moments of triumphal exuberance toward helping many a 
wayward youth turn the corners around, but also in his quest to 
transform Miami-Dade County into a veritable mosaic of vibrant cultures 
and diverse races converging to symbolize the noble idealism that is 
America.
  As my community honors Jesse F. McCrary, Jr., Esquire, I praise the 
decent man and devout Christian that he is. My pride in sharing his 
friendship is only exceeded by my deep gratitude for all that he has 
sacrificed on behalf of all Floridians. This is the magnificent legacy 
with which he will always be honored.

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