[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF JAMES H. GILLIAM, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2003

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise to pay 
tribute to James H. Gilliam Jr. who passed away suddenly last week at 
the age of 58 after decades of outstanding service to the State of 
Delaware. Jim was a loving father, husband, and son, as well as a 
corporate attorney and investor, civic and business leader, 
philanthropist, and the first black Cabinet secretary in Delaware's 
history. The numerous accomplishments, recognitions, and admiration Jim 
has had in his lifetime are truly remarkable.
  Until 1998 Jim was the Executive Vice President and General Counsel 
of Beneficial Corporation and a member of the Executive Committee and 
the Board of Directors of Beneficial, as well as Chairman of its 
commercial banking subsidiary, Beneficial National Bank. Before joining 
Beneficial in 1979, Jim served as Secretary of Community Affairs and 
Economic Development in the Cabinet of Governor Pete du Pont. Prior to 
that post he was an attorney with the law firms of Richards, Layton & 
Finger in Wilmington, Delaware and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & 
Garrison in New York City. A graduate of Morgan State University, 
Columbia University School of Law, and the Advanced Management Program 
of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Jim also 
received Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Morgan State University 
and Delaware State University.
  Serving as a board member and trustee for numerous corporations and 
foundations, Jim was a board member of the Delaware Community 
Foundation, a Trustee of Christiana Care Corporation, and Founding 
Chairman of Wilmington 2000, established to assist in redevelopment of 
the City of Wilmington. He was also Chair of the Delaware State Chamber 
of Commerce, the United Negro College Fund Delaware Campaign, the 
Capital Campaign for the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts Council, and the 
Walnut Street YMCA in Wilmington, among many others.
  Jim also gave back greatly to the legal profession as a member of the 
American Bar Foundation, as Chair of the Governor's Judicial Nominating 
Commission in Delaware, and as Secretary of the Board of Bar Examiners 
for Delaware.
  Jim received many awards that further point to his commitment to a 
life of service to his community. He was awarded the Helping Hand Award 
by the Delaware Chapter of the NAACP for his efforts to promote 
diversity in the legal community, as well as the Wilmington Branch 
NAACP Award for Advocacy in the Education and Civil Rights Arena for 
Over 25 Years. Jim was also named Outstanding Young Man of the year by 
the Wilmington and Delaware Jaycees and received the National 
Conference for Community and Justice/Delaware Region Brotherhood-
Sisterhood Award for Leadership and Service toward building a just and 
inclusive community.
  I rise today to praise and honor James H. Gilliam Jr. for his 
contributions to the State of Delaware and its citizens. His 
achievements speak to the immense mark he has left on the community. 
His peers have described him as a great leader, a ``giant'' of the 
community, his friends speak of his loyalty, and his daughters speak of 
his encouragement and unconditional love. Delaware will remember James 
H. Gilliam Jr. for his great leadership and constant striving to do 
more for more people.

                          ____________________