[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 36 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOB GILDER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 2003

  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Bob Gilder, a remarkable, 
celebrated civil rights leader in the Tampa Bay area, whose death this 
week is an enormous loss to our entire community.
  Bob Gilder dedicated his life to fighting segregation, protecting 
fundamental rights and improving the quality of life for blacks in 
America. A native of Texas, Bob came to Tampa in 1959 after attending 
Florida A&M University, and by 1963, he was already speaking out at 
lunch-counter sit-ins, protests and marches.
  Bob's voice only grew stronger over the years, and in 1967, he played 
a critical role in restoring order and calling for an end to violence 
after Tampa's race riots. He led efforts to desegregate Tampa General 
Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital and started an on-the-job training 
program to help black people get jobs in the City of Tampa's fire 
department, the mayor's office and the state attorney's office. 
However, Bob is probably best known for his tireless voter registration 
efforts. Bob worked on countless voter registration drives and in 1991 
served as director of the Voter Registration Coalition.
  Bob was fearless in pursuing his goals. He had the know-how, the 
eloquence, the inspirational leadership and determination to succeed in 
breaking through the barriers to equality. For these qualities he was 
chosen to serve as president of the Tampa chapter of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People and as a member of 
the advisory committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and the 
Florida Commission on Human Rights, among other positions. Bob received 
countless awards for his leadership.
  Bob's legacy of service reached into his final days. Even during his 
illness, he became an advocate for hospice care. Bob credited the 
professionals at LifePath Hospice for helping him and encouraged others 
in the black community to turn to hospice for end-of-life care.
  Bob Gilder's noble fight for justice was a blessing to the Tampa Bay 
community and the nation. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies 
to his family and offer my thanks for his inspiration.

                          ____________________