[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 87 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 
                                  1963

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 27, 2005

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to the 
reunion of Miami-Dade County's Booker T. Washington's class of 1963. In 
a special way, I commend this dedicated group of alumni, who entered 
our community's landmark institution in 1957. Forty-two years later, 
the members of this class are journeying to Washington, DC to celebrate 
a memorable ``60th Birthday Bash,'' beginning on July 21, 2005.
  Indeed, these distinguished alumni symbolize a cadre of young men and 
women daring to be great in their own right during their years at the 
school. Inspired by their motto, ``Not the largest, but the best,'' 
this class represents a convergence of their desire to achieve greater 
enhancement of our noble traditions and the meaning of our common 
struggles.
  Booker T. Washington is truly a school for students of all ages. It 
was established in the days of segregation in 1926 and underwent many 
and varied changes, including its conversion to middle school status. 
But through the resilience of this class, its members achieved the 
unthinkable and convinced the Miami-Dade County School Board to 
reinstate its senior high school status in August 1999.
  The alumni are now prominent members of our community and occupy 
positions of honor and prestige in many professions at the local, State 
and Federal levels. Among its distinguished leaders is Les Brown, who 
is on the national speakers' circuit, advising people of all ages to 
strive to be the best they can be; the Miami Dolphin's extraordinary 
athlete Larry Little; professor and author Audrey Thomas McCluskey of 
Indiana University; teacher-of-the-year awardee Laurasteen Thompson 
Jones, who continues to tutor children in innercity schools; preeminent 
educator Roberta Thompson Daniels; and educational counselor Stanley 
Squire--these are but a few of the members of the class of '63. They 
are bonded by their quest to serve others, and together they evoke a 
unique family of achievers and dreamers who have prided themselves in 
enduring the same burdens for the sake of others, especially the less 
fortunate.
  As the class of '63 gathers to revive the memories of years gone by, 
I fully recognize the character of the members' genuine friendship that 
has given them hope and optimism for a better future amidst life's 
unceasing challenges. I am proud of this distinguished class because it 
represents the best and the noblest of our Miami-Dade County community 
and beyond amidst the countless struggles they have had to endure 
during a most difficult time of their years of learning. I look forward 
to their helping us cherish a genuine love for our proud heritage and 
enlighten us with greater wisdom while they continue to uphold the good 
name of their Alma Mater, Booker T. Washington High School.

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