[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MR. FRED A. CURLS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of the 
achievements of Mr. Fred Curls, a pioneer for civil and political 
rights, and a resident of the Fifth District of Missouri, which I am 
honored to represent. This week, Mr. Curls is to be inducted into the 
Missouri Walk of Fame during a reception as part of the Congressional 
Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, an event held 
to honor the achievements of African-Americans who have made 
significant contributions to Missouri. He is one of the original 
Founders of Freedom Incorporated, an African-American political 
organization which at one time could generate nearly 70,000 votes. 
Freedom Inc. was and has been very influential in delivering votes for 
a candidate or a cause.
  The organization has been at the forefront in serving as a catalyst 
for change in civil rights, public accommodations, and the election of 
candidates at all levels of government. Its office has been visited by 
City Councilpersons, Mayors, Governors, Congresspersons, Senators, and 
persons with Presidential aspirations. For nearly forty-five years, Mr. 
Curls has dedicated his life to the Greater Kansas City community, 
promoting and improving political empowerment and civil rights of 
people of color. His son, State Senator Phil B. Curls, Sr. was the 
President of Freedom Inc. when I was Chairman. It was a period when 
Freedom Inc. was recognized as one of the most potent political 
organizations in the United States and brought about the election of 
the first African-American Congressman from the Fifth District of 
Missouri, U.S. Representative Alan Wheat.
  Since the mid-1950's, Mr. Curls has been involved in real estate 
sales and appraisals, most notably in the African American community of 
Kansas City. He fought against ``restrictive covenants'' whereby 
residential homes could not be sold in certain areas to minorities. He 
was part of a class action lawsuit which resulted in the United States 
Supreme Court outlawing such covenants.
  In all of his activities, he demonstrates his dedication and 
commitment to the greater good of others. He is actively involved with 
his high school graduating class, the ``Class of 1937,'' which has been 
very close to this day. They have started the Lincoln High Alumni 
Association which gives scholarships to deserving young adults to go to 
college. He was recently honored by Jackson County, Missouri as one of 
its ``Legacy Awardees'' for its 175th anniversary as a political 
subdivision.
  Throughout his life, he has believed in the saying ``make it 
happen.'' He has put his principles to practice, and the effects of his 
efforts have ``made it happen'' throughout the Kansas City metropolitan 
area.
  For those reasons and more, it is indeed an honor and privilege to 
recognize Mr. Fred Curls at the Missouri Walk of Fame reception, hosted 
by myself and fellow Missourian, U.S. Representative William Lacy Clay 
of St. Louis.
  Mr. Speaker, just as this body has honored Dr. Martin Luther King as 
an outspoken pioneer and one of the historians of the civil rights 
struggle, and has honored Buck O'Neill was one of the historians for 
those who toiled in the Negro Leagues rather than the Major Leagues, we 
should now give honor to Fred Curls as one of the historians of Kansas 
City's African-American political struggle. He was active in promoting 
equality, elevating African-Americans from a second class citizenship 
to a first class citizenship to be recognized by all. Whatever we, as 
African-Americans, may attain in the political arena, Fred Curls, and 
those who labored to act on our behalf as political pioneers, have 
helped to change the course of history. In the year that this 109th 
Congress has approved the extension of the Voting Rights Act, it is 
with great pride that we honor one of our active, long-time heroes with 
this Missouri Walk of Fame. Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing 
our appreciation to Mr. Fred Curls and his endless commitment to 
serving the residents of the State of Missouri. He is a true role model 
not just to the African-American community in Missouri, but to the 
entire community at large.

                          ____________________