[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ROOSEVELT WILSON: A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY

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                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who is 
closing one chapter in his illustrious career. Mr. Roosevelt Wilson or 
``Prof. Wilson'', as his journalism students call him, is being honored 
tonight in Tallahassee, Florida. After nearly 18 years of teaching 
journalism, Mr. Wilson is retiring from the Florida A&M University 
School of Journalism, Media and Graphic Arts, and is being recognized 
at a special retirement banquet in his honor from Florida A&M 
University. Tonight journalism students, family, friends, former 
athletes and community leaders will gather to honor and pay tribute to 
this remarkable man who has influenced and touched so many lives.
  Throughout many crossroads in my personal and professional career, 
Mr. Wilson has played a critical role. As a high school senior who was 
eager to play for the world-famous Florida A&M University Rattler 
football team, Mr. Wilson helped me and countless other athletes secure 
scholarships. As Sports Information Director and Director of 
Intercollegiate Athletics at Florida A&M University, Mr. Wilson's 
wisdom and real-world advice were inspirational to thousands of bright-
eyed student athletes with dreams of gridiron success.
  In 1991, Mr. Wilson embarked on a new venture as publisher of a 
weekly African-American Newspaper, the Capitol Outlook. With the help 
of family and friends, Mr. Wilson turned a small weekly paper into an 
award-winning nationally recognized publication. Every week more than 
16,000 readers across the state read this weekly paper for its 
political, community and feature coverage. As publisher of the Capitol 
Outlook, Mr. Wilson's weekly columns have won national awards and the 
newspaper has been cited for excellence in editorial writing, public 
service, creativity and religion coverage. In addition, the Capitol 
Outlook was cited by the local Chamber of Commerce for business 
excellence.
  Words are inadequate to describe Mr. Wilson's contribution to the 
publishing and broadcasting world. In 2000, Mr. Wilson's coverage of 
the Executive Order eliminating affirmative action in the state of 
Florida and the public outcry that ensued was recognized for its 
objectivity and fairness. Furthermore, his weekly call-in radio show 
``Against the Grain'' has become one of the most popular radio shows 
reaching thousands of listeners across North Florida.
  Throughout his professional career, Mr. Wilson has been honored for 
his community work and academic achievements on several occasions. In 
1999, he was inducted into the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of 
Fame. He has also been recognized as Florida Teacher of the Year by 
Florida A&M University and the NAACP honored him with their Community 
Service Award.
  As Florida A&M University honors Mr. Roosevelt Wilson, I praise this 
man for his boundless energy and his commitment to the University. I 
congratulate Mr. Wilson on his retirement and praise him for all that 
he has sacrificed on behalf of his students. Mr. Wilson's legacy as a 
teacher and educator will live on through the thousands of students 
who've passed through his classes and the thousands of athletes who've 
passed through his office door. His legacy as a wordsmith will continue 
to live on through his columns, pictures, articles, and radio 
broadcasts. I am honored to call him a friend and a mentor.

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