[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 96 (Thursday, June 26, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1372-E1373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO DR. ISRAEL ``IKE'' TRIBBLE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2003

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Israel 
``Ike'' Tribble, Jr., a remarkable man who dedicated his whole life to 
equipping African-American young people in our community, our state and 
our country with the educational tools they need to succeed in their 
personal and professional lives.
  Ike had an amazing ability to see the good in everyone, and he knew 
that education was the key to fully unlocking everyone's God-given 
potential. After earning a masters in school administration and a 
doctorate in administration and policy analysis, Ike began a career 
focused on promoting higher education opportunities for all people.
  Ike first blessed Floridians with his talents in 1982 when he moved 
to Tallahassee to serve

[[Page E1373]]

as associate vice chancellor for academic programs for the Florida 
Board of Regents. From there he was recruited to start the Florida 
Education Fund, a program designed to help African-Americans earn 
doctorates and law degrees. During his 17 years leading the Fund to new 
heights, Ike helped thousands of young people on their path to higher 
education.
  When Ike was not working long hours at the Fund, he was devoting his 
energies to a host of other civic boards and committees. He served on 
the Advisory Committee on the Education of Blacks in Florida and as 
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Tampa Housing Authority. 
As the first African-American chairman of the Greater Tampa Chamber of 
Commerce, Ike was responsible for making the board more representative 
of our diverse business community and focusing business and community 
leaders on the virtues of educating our young people.
  In 1999, Ike was diagnosed with acute leukemia. Ike faced his illness 
with the same courage and positive attitude that he applied to all 
other facets of his life. Through chemotherapy and multiple 
transplants, Ike fought to the end, and he never stopped giving back to 
his community.
  I consider it the highest honor, privilege and joy to have called Ike 
Tribble my dear friend and a mentor. Ike's passion and commitment to 
improving the lives of those around him was unsurpassed. Like so many 
touched by Ike, I will forever be inspired by Ike's compelling example, 
his wisdom and his zest for life.
  On behalf of the Tampa Bay community, which so greatly benefitted 
from Ike's life work, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to 
the Tribble family.

                          ____________________