[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1949-H1950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING ULYSSES BRADSHAW KINSEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a recently deceased 
great American, Ulysses Bradshaw Kinsey.

[[Page H1950]]

  As a boy, Mr. Kinsey grew up on a large farm where he shared 
responsibilities with his older siblings. Mr. Kinsey's values of 
fairness, compassion, and personal integrity were learned from his 
father and mother. He closely observed and admired his beloved father's 
fair treatment of people regardless of race and stature. He also 
admired his mother for her kindness and compassion towards others. This 
strong foundation would become the basis for Mr. Kinsey's personal and 
professional values.
  While attending Florida A&M, he met and married his wife of 63 years. 
With their children they were loving and unfailing in their devotion. 
Mr. Kinsey believed that the best way to love his children was to love 
their mother. He encouraged independence of action and attitude while 
loyally supporting them and allowing them to develop in directions of 
their own choosing.
  At the same time, he set well-defined limits that were firm and 
consistent. Mr. Kinsey's focus on the individual development and 
welfare of each child was transferred to his professional life in a 
long distinguished career as an educator. In 1941, he began his career 
as a social studies and history teacher at his high school alma mater. 
By 1943, he became assistant principal and also served as school 
treasurer, junior class sponsor, and athletic director.
  In September of 1950, at the birth of his sixth child, Mr. Kinsey 
became principal of Palmview Elementary School, formerly an industrial 
high school. And by 1953, he had earned his masters degree in education 
and supervision from Florida A&M college. He also attended Lincoln 
University Law School in St. Louis, Missouri, during his summer 
vacations and completed his legal education.
  Although Mr. Kinsey decided to become an educator partly because of 
the financial demands of a growing family, he never regretted that 
decision; and that decision was a fortunate one for the thousands of 
children who passed through Palmview's doors during Mr. Kinsey's long 
tenure as a principal.
  As a leader, he focused on two rudiments of education, one, critical 
thinking through the development of reading and writing skills, and 
quantitative reasoning. His emphasis on these educational basics may 
explain why Palmview Elementary School, an institution located in an 
inner-city community with an 86 percent African American student 
population, was so hotly pursued by suburban parents during the early 
turbulent days of integration in the South.
  Palmview, an educational oasis, was distinguished from other schools 
by its clean, safe environment, intensive extra-curricular activities 
in art and music and computers in the classrooms.
  With a calm, careful demeanor, Mr. Kinsey led the way academically, 
not only for African American children but also for all children in 
West Palm Beach County.
  His impact on his community also influenced many others beyond the 
children who became part of the Palmview family. His work as a 
community organizer and leader began in the early 1940s. U.B., along 
with other African American educators, employed Thurgood Marshall and 
he was successful in bringing integration of the teachers and giving 
them the back pay they deserved.
  His contributions are countless to education and he serves as a role 
model for others and leaves a very rich legacy.

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