[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1954-E1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING ARIE TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Colorado is poorer this week 
because of the death of Arie Taylor. As the Denver Post accurately 
stated in a recent editorial, Ms. Taylor--the first Africa-American 
woman to serve in our Legislature--was one of the truly great figures 
in Colorado politics. An outspoken champion of equality and 
opportunity, Ms. Taylor exemplified the tradition of collegiality that 
was once the hallmark of Colorado's political debates. A role model for 
many Coloradans, Ms. Taylor also should be an example of how we as 
legislators and public figures should conduct ourselves.
  The complete editorial from the Denver Post follows:

[[Page E1955]]

               Arie Taylor 1927-2003, Role Model for All

       Colorado politics lost one of its truly great figures with 
     the death Saturday of Arie Taylor, the first African-American 
     woman elected to the legislature.
       Like many of Denver's African- Americans, Taylor moved to 
     Colorado after serving in the military. The Ohio native 
     served as a staff sergeant in the Women's Air Force from 1951 
     to 1955. Although she never had been stationed in Denver, she 
     had heard favorable things about the city from an Air Force 
     colleague and moved here in 1958. About two-thirds of her 
     family eventually followed her from Cleveland.
       Taylor, who studied at Miami University of Ohio and Case 
     Western Reserve University, ran an accounting business for 
     many years and also held jobs with the city.
       A fervent champion of minority and women's rights, Taylor, 
     76, was beloved on both sides of the aisle.
       A passionate warrior on behalf of causes in which she 
     believed, Taylor was good humored and gregarious, and she 
     genuinely enjoyed what she did.
       Taylor represented House District 7 from 1972 until 1984 
     and won a reputation as an outspoken advocate for African-
     Americans, women, the poor, the elderly and other groups of 
     people who were disadvantaged.
       During the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 
     she castigated Southern delegations for being all white and 
     was described by a Chicago paper as a ``large, fierce black 
     woman.''
       Taylor never shied away from that description. Indeed, when 
     U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis arrived at the Colorado Capitol after 
     being elected to the state legislature two decades ago, his 
     2-year-old son said, ``Papa, now there's a big, fat black 
     woman'' within Taylor's earshot. The mortified McInnis 
     proceeded to lecture the boy.
       Toward the end of the day, Taylor recounted the story to 
     the chamber, and asked the speaker of the House for an 
     official rebuke ``against Rep. Scott McInnis,'' noting that 
     ``his son took one look at me and called me a big, fat black 
     woman. . . . He shouldn't lecture his son for telling the 
     truth. The fact is, I am a big, fat black woman.''
       It's worth noting that when Taylor served in the 
     legislature, there was a collegiality among lawmakers that 
     transcended party lines. People who fought over issues tooth 
     and nail on the floor nonetheless were good friends in 
     private life, a tradition that sadly seems to have been 
     supplanted in recent years by a take-no-prisoners mentality 
     more suited to professional wrestling than good government.
       ``She was involved in many controversies,'' recalled Omar 
     Blair, the first black president of the Denver school board. 
     ``She was a role model for a lot of young people and even a 
     few old people like myself.''
       Today, Coloradans of all colors have cause to mourn the 
     loss of the businesswoman and lawmaker with the floppy hats 
     and a heart bigger than the Great Plains.

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