[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E368-E369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO DR. SANDRA E. THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 15, 2006


  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Sandra E. Thomas, 
of Altadena, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's 
History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by our Nation's women.
  Dr. Sandra E. Thomas is a powerful and fearless leader whose personal 
service motto

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is ``Brighter Hope, With a New Vision.'' Highly visible in the 
community as a civil rights advocate, she has a way of saying what must 
be said without offending those around her--she always has a smile and 
a kind word for all who pass her way.
  Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Dr. Thomas received her Bachelor of Arts 
and a Masters Degree from the University of Kansas and her Ph.D from 
Columbia University. After retiring as an engineer at Pacific Bell-SBC, 
she began a pilot program geared to attracting at-risk high school 
students to the field of engineering.
  For 28 years, Sandra served as a youth counselor at the Lincoln 
Avenue Baptist Church, where her husband, Reverend A.D. Thomas, is 
Pastor Emeritus. She is currently an instructor and consultant for 
young adults. A foster mom for over 2 decades, Sandra was named 
``Outstanding Mother of the Year'' at Altadena Elementary School in 
1977 and Pasadena High School's ``Mother of the Year'' in 1979.
  Dr. Thomas, a Life Member of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has been affiliated with the 
organization for 55 years, and serves simultaneously at all levels of 
the NAACP organization. She is currently an NAACP National Trainer, a 
Regional Officer, a California State Director and the President of the 
Altadena Branch of the NAACP, where she has been successful in 
implementing many positive changes in the Altadena-Pasadena community.
  In addition to her NAACP activities, Sandra is an Altadena Town 
Council member, the founder and CEO of the ``Quality of Life Community 
Center,'' Chairperson of the Pasadena/Altadena African-American Leaders 
Community Coalition, a member of the Pasadena Junior League, the 
Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Leadership Pasadena, the Pasadena Unified 
School District Non-Violence Team, and the Altadena Community Center 
Board of Directors.
  Dr. Thomas and her husband, long-time Altadena residents, have 3 
children, Michael, Vincent, Rosalyn and 6 grandchildren.
  I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an 
extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Dr. 
Sandra E. Thomas.

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