[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E73]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO JAMES T. McLAWHORN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2005

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a very special tribute 
to a true community leader, Mr. James T. McLawhorn, Jr. It is my honor 
to recognize the significant contributions that he has made to the City 
of Columbia and the State of South Carolina.
  The son of James T. McLawhorn, Sr. and Allily McLawhorn, ``J.T.'' was 
born on April 21, 1947, in Greenville, North Carolina. Mr. McLawhorn is 
a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State 
University, where he received his degree in Political Science. He also 
sought higher degrees, attaining a Master's in Regional Planning from 
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master's in 
Business Administration from the University of Miami Coral Gables.
  On Thursday, January 27, 2005, Mr. McLawhorn celebrates 25 years of 
dedicated service as President and Chief Executive Officer of the 
Columbia, South Carolina Urban League. The Columbia Urban League is a 
non-profit, non-partisan, interracial organization serving African 
Americans and economically disadvantaged individuals and families.
  Mr. McLawhorn's leadership has been visionary in implementing new 
programs that have had a tremendous impact throughout South Carolina. 
In 1985, he founded the National Black Family Summit, a premier action 
forum on family issues, with an emphasis on the African American 
community. Annual meetings of the Summit have brought together more 
than 1,300 participants to develop strategies for family empowerment.
  His deeply felt commitment to initiating positive change in the 
African American community has resulted in the publishing of an annual 
report entitled The State of Black South Carolina: An Action Agenda for 
the Future that is a widely recognized publication. The publication 
serves as a blueprint for identifying and addressing public policy 
issues that are critical to improving the quality of life for all South 
Carolinians. The publication is penned by area professionals, used as 
reference material in area libraries, and serves as a teaching 
supplement in educational institutions throughout the state. It was an 
honor for me to be one of the contributors to this publication in past 
years.
  It is also in Mr. McLawhorn's nature to stand up for what he 
believes, and that dedication led him to serve as one of the chief 
planners of ``King Day at the Dome,'' held on the third Monday. A few 
years ago that historic event was one of the largest civil rights 
demonstrations in the history of South Carolina, bringing more than 
60,000 people to downtown Columbia to protest the flying of the 
Confederate battle flag atop the South Carolina State House. In part, 
because of the public outcry witnessed at ``King Day at the Dome,'' the 
flag was removed from any position of sovereignty.
  Mr. McLawhorn is also actively involved in empowering today's youth 
so they may be meaningful community contributors as adults. Under his 
direction, the Columbia Urban League and the South Carolina Department 
of Social Services have teamed up to administer ``creative and dynamic 
programs'' that help young people around the state. The Youth 
Leadership Development Institute is one example in which high school 
students are placed in work settings for five weeks during the summer 
and participate in academic, social and cultural enrichment activities. 
I have had the opportunity to host several of the program's students in 
my office, and I have seen the benefit they derive from experiencing 
the challenges and rewards of the working world.

  Dedicated to the empowerment of African Americans, Mr. McLawhorn has 
received many prestigious awards on both the state and national levels. 
Former Governors Carroll Campbell and David Beasley presented him with 
the prestigious Order of the Palmetto. The Order of the Palmetto is the 
highest award given to any civilian in the state. It recognizes the 
significant accomplishments of notable South Carolinians. The National 
Urban League recently voted him President of the Decade for his 
unwavering commitment. Mr. McLawhorn was also recently awarded the 2004 
TEC Champion Leadership Award for his foresight in bringing the DigiPen 
Summer Video Game Programming Workshop to the Midlands. He and the 
Columbia Urban League have also received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Race 
Relations Award. To add to his staggering list of accomplishments, he 
was an invited participant to the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference 
by the United States Secretary of Defense.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in applauding 
Mr. James T. McLawhorn for his many achievements. I congratulate him on 
his quarter century of service and commend him for his significant 
efforts to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.




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