[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING GREENVILLE'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE OFFICER, WILLIE 
                                 CARSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2006

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize 
an African American pioneer, Willie Carson, Greenville's first African-
American police officer. I submit the following article by Bill Johnson 
of the Delta Democrat Times.

              Greenville--Another Delta Pioneer Has Passed

       Willie Carson, the first African-American police officer in 
     Greenville, died Friday evening. He was 86 years old.
       Carson forged the way for other black law enforcement 
     officers to follow in the early 1950s, working as a beat 
     officer on Nelson Street.
       ``Those were some really rough days back then,'' said his 
     wife of 20 years, Delilah Carson. She recalled some of the 
     many stories told by her husband of his early experiences in 
     uniform from their Fairview Extended home.
       ``At that particular time, a lot of blacks were killing 
     each other on Nelson. Back then, it was not so much with guns 
     but knives and their fists,'' she said. ``It was a real war 
     zone out there at the time.
       ``C.A. Hollinsworth was the chief at that time. And he knew 
     that changes were coming and a new day was ahead,'' she 
     reflected.
       ``Winchester Davis was very instrumental in helping Willie 
     get on the force. Willie played guitar for Davis' band, and 
     they traveled a lot. He knew Willie had a family with 
     children and needed a good job with benefits, and made a way 
     for him.''
       Carson took his oath to uphold the law, and he made sure 
     that everyone on his beat abided by the law.
       He was smooth and quiet in manner but when necessary made a 
     firm stand.
       ``A lot of people have come up to him over the years and 
     thanked him for changing their lives.'' Carson said. ``If 
     need be, he could get down and dirty right along with them. 
     And sometimes it was necessary.''
       While rumors abounded about the reasons Carson was given 
     the Nelson Street beat, she was told by Willie that it was a 
     matter of support.
       ``Hollinsworth knew that if anything went down on the 
     Nelson Street beat, someone would speak up for Willie and 
     give support for him. But remember, this was the early '50s 
     still, and not many whites were going to go against another 
     white person's word if they were arrested by a colored 
     officer. So it was the best choice for the times,'' Carson 
     said.
       Willie Carson was also really good friends with former 
     police chief and mayor, William Burnley. They spent a lot of 
     time together and even called each other brother.
       ``They had a very unique relationship,'' Delilah recalled.
       Joe Tinsley, a long-time Nelson Street business owner, also 
     recalled Carson's tenure on the beat. ``He was a true pioneer 
     in police work, being a black man back in those days,'' 
     Tinsely said from his barber shop on the corner of Nelson and 
     Edison. ``And boy what a heck of a guitar player.''
       Tinsley recalled Carson as a hard-working man who always 
     had several jobs along with playing his guitar for a variety 
     of bands, including Ike Turner, Winchester Davis, Big Joe, 
     and others.
       ``He had a rocky road those early years, with the name 
     calling and all. But he broke through the ice and opened the 
     door for all black law enforcement officers to follow,'' 
     Tinsley said. ``And as time went on, Carson was very much 
     respected. They wouldn't raise any hell or cuss around 
     Officer Carson. It was tough on him, but he was the right man 
     for the job and he made it work.''
       Carson is remembered by his family as a good husband, 
     father and provider who loved his family and children; a man 
     who believed in being in line with the law.
       He was the type of fellow who was known for a good joke and 
     appreciated a better one. He was the go-to guy during the 
     boycotts at Mississippi Valley State College in 1969, where 
     he served as chief of campus police, telling his men, ``We 
     are here to protect these students and the faculty. And 
     that's what I expect you to do.''
       There were no major injuries on his watch, even when 
     meeting face to face and at odds with members of the Black 
     Panthers organization.
       Carson was also the first black housing inspector in 
     Greenville, and served as the grand marshal of the 2003 
     Christmas Parade.
       In later years, Carson served with the Washington County 
     Sheriffs Department from 1989 until his retirement in 2000.
       He was never a bitter man and was considered rather jolly 
     and outgoing.
       ``He tried to find the best in even a bad situation,'' 
     Delilah said, adding that he would often tell his children, 
     ``Sometimes you can't get around a problem, but you can 
     always make good choices.''

  Officer Willie Carson's career and faithful service to the community 
is a testament to his character. Carson's first probably will not be 
noted in history books, but it is his service and men and women of 
similar character that has paved the way for other outstanding African 
Americans to outfit our public services. It is with great honor, I 
recognize Officer Willie Carson, a true pioneer.

                          ____________________