[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E92]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SEYMORE SAILES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Seymore Sailes, 
a lifelong resident of Manatee County whose sudden passing last week is 
a tremendous loss to the Palmetto community.
  Mr. Sailes was the first African American insurance agent to work in 
a white-owned agency in the State of Florida. He went on to open his 
own insurance and bail bonding business, which is now a fixture in the 
Palmetto community.
  However, to the people of Palmetto, Mr. Sailes is better known for 
his work outside the office. Seymore dedicated his life to bettering 
his community and improving opportunities for young people. Where there 
was a need, Seymore was hard at work, determined to meet that need.
  Nowhere is the fruit of his tireless labor more evident than at the 
Palmetto Youth Center, where Mr. Sailes mentored kids and coached 
football. Seymore was always convincing local business leaders to 
support the center's young people by sponsoring events, financing 
educational scholarships or supporting the center's infrastructure 
expansion. Thanks to Mr. Sailes and his leadership, Palmetto Youth 
Center has been able to reach many more young people with a variety of 
programs and activities, as well as connecting with the entire 
community through the center's annual Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
banquet and parade.
  Outside of the Palmetto Youth Center, Seymore was also active in his 
church, serving as the chairman of the deacon board at St. John's First 
Baptist Institutional Church. His many civic activities and his 
determination in bringing people together to improve the community 
earned Mr. Sailes numerous awards, as well as the respect and 
appreciation of the Palmetto community.
  Seymore's passing leaves a void in our community's leadership, as 
well as in our hearts. I would like to extend my appreciation to Mr. 
Sailes for his service and my deepest sympathy to his family for their 
loss.

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