[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO MR. SAM FLOWERS, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE HICA 
                              ORGANIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, November 20, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man 
who can be described in many ways. A good son, a husband, father, 
grandfather, neighbor, friend, churchman, community leader and much 
more. I simply call him a giant who has devoted more than 50 years of 
his life to helping human-kind.
  Sam was one of the early African Americans who moved into the North 
Lawndale community. He did not just move in, he jumped in with both 
feet and immediately began to help organize block clubs, became an 
active member of the Presentation Church and helped to anchor many of 
its activities. In Sam's community many of the people could not get 
bank loans or mortgages and were buying their homes on contract. They 
discovered that they were being ripped off and thus formed the Contract 
Buyers League. Sam played an active role.
  In the 1960's the Lawndale Peoples Planning and Action Conference was 
formed, Sam was an active member, later on Pyramidwest Development 
Corporation was formed. Sam became a member of its board. Out of these 
groups and organizations came the California Gardens nursing home, 
Community bank of Lawndale, the Martin Luther King, Jr. shopping center 
and plaza.
  Sam eventually helped develop the Garfield Counseling Center, formed 
HICA and is currently involved with a housing development project for 
low and moderate income people. When you drive down Independence 
Boulevard you can see these buildings going up between Arthington and 
the Eisenhower Expressway. Sam was a tireless worker who never gave up. 
He gave every ounce of his strength and devotion that he could muster 
to his beloved family of which the North Lawndale Community is an 
integral part. Well done our good and faithful servant, you have moved 
to another community where peace will forever be present.

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