[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF REVEREND CHARLES WILLIAMS

 Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of my 
fellow Hoosier, Reverend Charles Williams, who lost his battle with 
cancer on Monday, July 12, 2004. Reverend Williams dedicated his life 
to serving our state of Indiana by bringing together the Hoosier 
community and demanding of everyone the potential greatness that he saw 
in us all.
  Reverend Charles Williams was born in Indianapolis in 1948. From a 
humble upbringing in Indiana and Chicago, Reverend Williams returned to 
his home town as an adult to become one of the city's most respected 
civic leaders, using every life lesson and experience, including his 
battle with cancer, to improve the quality of life for Indiana's 
African-American community and for all Hoosiers across the state.
  Reverend Charles Williams served his country first for 3 years as a 
member of the U.S. Navy and then as the executive coordinator for the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's national 
convention in Indianapolis. Following his work with the NAACP, he was 
appointed special assistant for then-Mayor William Hudnut. It was from 
here that Reverend Williams received an invitation to help a struggling 
Indiana African-American association, marking the beginning of his work 
with what would become his lasting legacy and crowning achievement, the 
Indiana Black Expo.
  Through his work with the Indiana Black Expo, from the early 1980s 
until his death this summer, Reverend Williams turned the Expo into a 
full-fledged community organization that promoted greater education, 
cooperation and opportunity for all Hoosiers. What began as a single-
event celebration has grown into a year-round operation, with the 
Summer Celebration described today as one of the Top 100 Events in 
North America. Reverend Charles Williams was tireless in his efforts to 
make a better life for Hoosiers. Even during his 2-year battle with 
cancer, he used his experience to educate other men about the 
importance of cancer screening.
  The 34th annual Black Expo Summer Celebration is taking place this 
week in Indianapolis. This year, the celebration will take on greater 
meaning, as a celebration not only of the strong community that has 
been built in Indiana, but a celebration of the man who did the 
building. While the sense of loss to all those who knew Reverend 
Charles Williams is tremendous, the energy and selflessness with which 
he faced this and every challenge in his life remains as an example to 
all of us who are left behind to carry on his work.
  It is my honor to enter the name of Reverend Charles Williams into 
the Congressional Record.

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