[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1282-E1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ROBERT A. WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2003

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
community activist and humanitarian. Mr. Robert Williams, the 
exceptional leader of the Sports Foundation Inc. in the Bronx, has 
given 34 years of service to the youth of his community.
  Mr. Williams helped found the Sports Foundation with the mission of 
promoting the development of youth through participation in community 
programs that involve sports, counseling, mentoring and education. The 
motto: ``Building Social Responsibility through Sports'' drives SFI to 
function as a model youth development organization, utilizing and 
providing prevention strategies and positive alternatives to substance 
use and anti-social behavior.
  In addition to his work with the Sports Foundation in the Bronx, Mr. 
Williams has served

[[Page E1283]]

as Director of the Youth Development Program which began the first 
publicly elected youth council in the country. He has served as 
Director of the College Opportunity and Educational Development program 
in Harlem and was the first Black Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at 
New York University. He is also the author of The Student Athlete 
Handbook, which was published in 1993.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Williams has dedicated the majority of his adult 
life to serving his community. For four years he served as special 
assistant to the Bronx Borough President where he was responsible for 
all educational matters, including community school districts, 
institutions of higher education, libraries and cultural institutions.
  Those who take the time to improve the lives of youth are special 
people. I am proud to say that our nation is a better place because of 
people like Mr. Robert Williams.
  I thank Mr. Williams for 34 years of service to the youth of our 
community and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing him as a 
model American.

                          ____________________