[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E788-E789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ANDREW ROLLINS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2005

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker I rise today to mourn the recent 
passing Andrew Rollins, Jr., of Kansas City, Kansas.
  Andy Rollins was a longtime civic activist in Wyandotte County and 
Kansas City, Kansas, who spent over 40 years working to improve the 
lives of his neighbors and the conditions within his community. I am 
placing in the Congressional Record with this statement two recent news 
articles, from the Kansas City Star and the Kansas City Kansan, 
detailing Andy Rollins' 88 years of good works. He served for 16 years 
as the president of the Kansas City, Kansas, chapter of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, continually worked 
to bring economic development funds and strategies to Kansas City, 
Kansas, and actively supported local efforts to assist drug addicts and 
alcoholics. Additionally, he served our country with distinction as a 
member of the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving European, 
African, and Middle Eastern Theater Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, 
the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, Kansas City, Kansas, is a much stronger and richer 
community for having Andrew Rollins, Jr., as a member of the community. 
I commend him to you and to the members of this House and I join with 
his family and his many, many friends in mourning his loss.

                      [From the Kansas City Star]

          Andrew Rollins' Passion for Growth Left Mark on KCK

                       (By Robert A. Cronkleton)

       City and county leaders fondly remembered Andrew Rollins 
     Jr., a long-time Kansas City, Kan., activist, who died last 
     week at the age of 88. Rollins helped secure private 
     financing for community projects and had worked for years to 
     promote economic development in Kansas City, Kan., and the 
     metropolitan area. ``I don't know anyone who cared about the 
     community more than Rollins did,'' said Don Denney, a 
     spokesman for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and 
     Kansas City, Kan. ``He was a very caring individual and he 
     did a lot of work behind the scenes.''
       Rollins' community work dated back to 1962, when he founded 
     the Depth Rehabilitation Alcohol Group. Over the years, he 
     helped secure private financing for various community 
     projects including the Kansas City, Kan., Police Cadet 
     Program, a housing project in Nicodemus, Kan; the Mid-America 
     Regional Council; the Gateway I and II office complex, and 
     the construction of the current Kansas City, Kan., City Hall 
     and the joint city-county public health department.
       Rollins had owned a security company and for 16 years had 
     served as the president of the Kansas City, Kan., chapter of 
     the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
     People.
       He worked over the years to bring a hotel to downtown 
     Kansas City, Kan., next to the Jack Reardon Civic Center. At 
     one time he was associated with a Saudi Arabian group that 
     was presented as investors for hotel projects that never 
     materialized. ``I loved the city and I loved to see the city 
     grown,'' Rollins said in a 1991 interview.
       Dennis Hays, county administrator Unified Government, said 
     Rollins worked tirelessly to find the developers and 
     financing to make the hotel project happen. The Hilton Garden 
     Inn was eventually built at the site and opened in September 
     2002. While Rollins was not involved in the final financing 
     for the project, Hays said, Rollins was very active in 
     searching for financing and should be credited for his work. 
     ``Andy was amazing,'' Hays said. ``He had friendships dating 
     over more than 60 years, back to the days of World War II.''
       Those friendships included federal, state and local 
     officials, Hays said. ``He had access to those folks and an 
     uncanny ability of getting the right people together to 
     address issues and solve problems,'' Hays said. ``He was 
     able to pull the right people together.''
       Police Chief Ron Miller said he had known Rollins for many 
     years and worked with him on several issues. He always 
     supported the Police Department, Miller said, and was a good 
     conduit for information on issues facing the community. 
     ``Andy Rollins loved Kansas City, Kan., and always supported 
     this community,'' Miller said. ``He had national exposure in 
     various groups, but he was always proudest of Kansas City, 
     Kan.''
       LaVert Murray, director the Unified Government's 
     development department, said Rollins was a mixture between a 
     community activist and a community booster. ``He worked hard 
     to better his community,'' Murray said. ``His desire was to 
     make Kansas City, Kan., the best community that existed in 
     the U.S. and to improve the entire metropolitan area.''
       In 1992, Rollins received four medals and ribbons he earned 
     in the U.S. Army during World War II. The decorations were 
     the European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon; the 
     Good Conduct Medal; the American Campaign Medal; and the 
     World War II Victory Medal.
       Survivors include his two sons, Rev. Andrew J. Rollins III 
     of Topeka and Edward T. Rollins of Mission; two ex-wives, 
     Margaret Louise Hutchinson of Mission and Patience O'Hare of 
     Kansas City, Kan.; a brother and his wife, Henry C. and 
     Geraldine Rollins of Seattle; and two grandchildren.
       Rev. Rollins said his father loved Kansas City, Kan., 
     because it was his hometown, he had spent his entire life 
     there. ``One of the things he shared with me was that when he 
     was born, he was born in an impoverished situation, the wrong 
     side of the track you could say,'' Rollins said of his 
     father.
       That didn't stop his father from being determined to leave 
     his mark and contribute something positive to the community, 
     Rollins said. He said his father believed that anyone could 
     have a significant impact in life, despite their humble 
     beginnings. ``Sometimes you can be dealt a worse hand than 
     the person you are playing against, but if you play your 
     cards better, not even the best hand will still win,'' 
     Rollins said.
                                  ____


                     [From the Kansas City Kansan]

                     Community Activist Remembered


                LEADER LEAVES LEGACY TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY

                            (By Brant Stacy)

       The Rev. Andrew Rollins III said his dad was an awesome 
     man.
       The late Andrew ``Andy'' J. Rollins Jr., a longtime 
     activist in Kansas City, Kan., died Sunday at the age of 88. 
     The late Rollins, who was born and grew up in Kansas City, 
     Kan., was deeply involved in making Wyandotte County a better 
     place to live. The Rev. Andrew Rollins III, one of Rollins' 
     two sons, said his father was someone who didn't mind 
     stepping out and taking a chance. He said he was willing to 
     put his life on the line to make a difference. ``He 
     encouraged people to live out their dreams,'' Andrew said. 
     ``He wanted to make a better Kansas City, Kan., and he wanted 
     to see African-Americans actively participating in their 
     community. He wanted to inspire.''
       Andrew said his father's civic career consisted of many 
     great accomplishments. He said he remembers his 
     father serving as president for the Kansas City, Kan., 
     branch of the NAACP, for 16 years. He also said he 
     actively engaged within the urban core. ``Both my parents 
     were involved in the civil rights movement,'' Andrew said. 
     ``My father had a lot of pressure on him in those days, 
     but he stood his ground and helped make a difference, 
     especially in the school systems.''
       Edward Rollins, Rollins' other son, said he remembers his 
     father working hard to help curb alcoholism and D.R.A.G. 
     Alcohol and Abuse Center. He said the facility, which 
     assisted those in the community dependent on chemical 
     substances helped many individuals get back on their feet and 
     lead healthy, productive lives. ``He was really concerned 
     about the plight of alcoholics,'' Edward said. ``The D.R.A.G. 
     Center went on to become a national model for drug and 
     alcohol rehabilitation.''
       Edward said his father was extremely involved in politics. 
     He said his father helped finance City Hall, and a plaque 
     hangs on the wall commemorating his achievements. ``He was 
     instrumental in getting the bonds to get that building 
     built,'' Edward said. ``He also secured private funding for 
     other developments within Wyandotte County as well. He was 
     always focused. That's what he was about.''
       Edward said his father slept only four hours a day for the 
     past 30 or 40 years of his life. He said he was very self 
     determined and had a lot of more than 100 men behind him. 
     ``He led an army,'' Edward said. ``He has a lot of soldiers 
     with him as well.''
       La Vert Murray, Unified Government director of economic 
     development and friend of the late Rollins, said it's 
     difficult to sum up in words the amazing accomplishment 
     Rollins made during his life. Murray said he went to 
     school with Rollins' sons and had always known him. It 
     wasn't until he became involved with the UG of Wyandotte 
     County, Kansas City, Kan., that he understood the power of 
     this man.

[[Page E789]]

       Murray said Rollins was a very dynamic individual that got 
     things started. He said he helped fund a variety of 
     development initiatives such as the Jersey Creek Project, the 
     Jack Reardon Civic Center, the Hilton Garden Inn/BPU Office 
     Complex and the most recent, the Weed and Seed program, which 
     helps weed out criminal elements in the community. ``He 
     started the Human Engineering Committee for Kansas and 
     Missouri, which focused on getting the Weed and Seed program 
     going,'' Murray said. ``The program helped produce positive 
     individuals and communities.''
       Murray said Rollins was proud of his accomplishment of 
     securing grants to demolish drug houses. He said those areas 
     are more secure because the drug houses have been cleared. 
     ``When you look at the areas in the community that are yet 
     redeveloped, at least a number of those areas are more secure 
     because the dilapidated structures are torn down.''
       Murray said that oftentimes Rollins came across as a 
     commoner. He said while he gave this appearance he was able 
     to effectively communicate across all lines, including those 
     of senators, representatives and the common man.
       Andy said it's hard to believe his father is gone. He said 
     it's hard to say how his father's life will affect people in 
     the future but he knows he will be remembered.
       Edward said his father helped countless amounts of people. 
     He reached out to urban areas, helped black people get 
     involved and showed them how to become active in their 
     community. ``God put him on this earth to do something with 
     Wyandotte County,'' Edward said. ``He made Wyandotte County a 
     positive place to live and raise kids.''

                          ____________________