[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING LULA TAYLOR AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the exemplary 
public service of Lula Taylor, a resident of the Chautauqua County city 
of Jamestown, upon the occasion of her receiving the Woman of 
Achievement Award.
  Lula Taylor graduated from Newton Central High School in Newton, 
North Carolina. After graduation, she attended cosmetology school and 
ran her own beauty shop. Lula met and married her husband Vivian, and 
moved to Jamestown where she attended Jamestown Community College. They 
have a son and a daughter and two grandchildren, Michael and Claudine.
  Throughout her entire life Lula has been a woman to go against the 
flow and break down barriers. This is evident in her career and her 
social life. Lula was the first African-American woman to be hired at 
Proto Tool Division of Ingersoll Rand Corporation in 1964 and worked 
there until her retirement. She is the first African-American woman to 
be elected to any county legislature in New York. These two 
achievements have paved the way for others to follow their dreams and 
not give in to adversity.
  Lula is one woman who never stops working for the things she believes 
in. She serves on the County Human Service Committee, Chautauqua County 
Board of Health, Chautauqua County Health Network Inc. Advisory Board, 
Office for the Aging Advisory Board, County Home Advisory Board, Safe 
House Committee, and is an AIDS Awareness Advocate.
  When it comes to her heritage Lula works tirelessly. She has created 
numerous displays on African-American History, led tours for the 
Underground Railroad Tableau Steering Committee, Chautauqua County 
Black History Committee and is a founder of the Ebony Task Force. She 
is a member of the Blackwell Chapel, A.M.E. Zion Church. In the 1980's 
she stood up against adversity to coach and manage the Love School 
girl's softball team. This allowed girls to work as a team in a multi-
ethnic situation. In 1985, she was instrumental in planning the first 
Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Since then the celebration has 
grown considerably each year. On May 13, 2003, Lula and her husband 
Vivian were recognized by the New York State Democratic Rural Training 
Forum as the 2004 Chautauqua Democrats of the Year.
  Lula is a woman of very strong conviction. Whenever there is 
something negative rearing its ugly head she is the first one to take a 
stand and put a positive spin on it. A perfect example of this was when 
the Nushawn Williams case sent Jamestown into a hot bed of negative 
publicity. Lula took that and turned it into a positive educational 
experience for everyone. She has worked so hard to lessen any racial 
tensions that exist. She has successfully brought together a very 
multiethnic team of girls in softball and has let her own voice be 
heard loudly in a predominantly Swedish and Italian community. Lula 
Taylor is an amazing woman and I am proud, Mr. Speaker, to have an 
opportunity to honor her today.

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