[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2040-E2041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO EDDIE N. WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2004

  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eddie N. Williams, 
admired journalist, researcher, and civil servant who is retiring as 
President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Mr. 
Williams has led the Center for 32 years in its mission to improve the 
socioeconomic status of African Americans and other minorities, through 
research, policy analysis, and political engagement. In every sense, 
Mr. Williams' life and career are emblematic of how one courageous and 
hard working American can overcome challenges, take advantage of 
opportunities and make people's lives better.

[[Page E2041]]

  Mr. Williams was born in Memphis, Tennessee where he was reared 
mostly by his mother, after the death of his jazz and blues musician 
father. Growing up, Mr. Williams was a stellar student and writer at 
Manassas High School in Memphis. From there, he went on to earn a 
degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1956. 
He later pursued graduate studies at Howard and Atlanta Universities. 
Pursuing a career in segregated America, Mr. Williams encountered 
barriers because of his race that prevented him from pursuing a 
journalism career in Illinois
  Illinois' loss was our gain because Mr. Williams returned to Memphis, 
where he began his career as managing director of the Memphis Star-
Times, a local African-American newspaper. After working as a 
congressional fellow for U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey and as a Foreign 
Service Reserve officer in the Kennedy administration, Mr. Williams 
returned to Illinois as vice president of public affairs and executive 
director of the University Center for Policy Study at the University of 
Chicago.
  Unwilling to rest on his laurels, Mr. Williams resigned from his 
prestigious positions to take on the helm of a new, little-known think 
tank. The Joint Center's original purpose was to support and train 
African-American elected officials nationwide and measure their growth 
subsequent to the Voting Rights Act. Under Mr. Williams' direction, the 
Center expanded its focus to examine and document public policy issues 
affecting African Americans. Mr. Williams' determination to maintain a 
nonpartisan approach to the Center's problem-solving activities serves 
as an example to us all.
  Mr. Williams leaves a legacy of innovation and courage in his efforts 
to address issues such as education, voting rights reform and the 
spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States. Mr. Williams has received 
numerous accolades and awards for his civic contributions, including 
the prestigious MacArthur Foundation ``Genius'' Award. Most recently, 
the Joint Center, under Mr. Williams leadership has studied and 
explained the rise of a new generation of the African-American elected 
officials into the mainstream of public life. He continuously reminds 
us not to be shy in our goal of reaching new heights on behalf of all 
Americans while staying connected to, in his words, ``the useful values 
of the past.'' His life and career demonstrate to all Americans that we 
stand on the shoulders of a generation that fought and stood and often 
sat down to create a more perfect union.
  For his unselfish contributions and commitment to our Nation, Mr. 
Speaker, I urge you and my colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to join me in commending Mr. Eddie Williams for his 
many years of dedicated service to the American people.

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