[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 2 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO WALTER THEOPHILUS LUNSFORD, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 2007

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great 
man and outstanding citizen who passed away on December 28, 2006.
  Walter Theophilus Lunsford, Sr. passed away at the age of 90 years 
old in Columbus, Ga., the city where he was born, raised, and spent 
much of his life making an impact as a businessman, family man and 
positive contributor to the community.
  Success came early in Mr. Lunsford's life and he never let it go. 
After graduating as valedictorian from Spencer High School in 1933, he 
furthered his academic pursuits at Fisk University where as a physics 
major, he pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Later, he became a 
charter member of the Eta Theta Chapter at Columbus State University, 
as well as the Columbus Alumni Chapter.
  Mr. Lunsford first developed his business acumen by working in the 
family grocery store. He learned entrepreneurship first-hand as his 
parents expanded their business into real-estate, building houses at a 
time when public housing did not exist. He later built on that 
knowledge at the University of Chicago, studying business 
administration and international relations.
  In the early 1940's, Mr. Lunsford carried his initial business 
experience into his own ventures, first as the sole owner and 
proprietor of Fox Deluxe Wholesale Beer Distributing Company and later, 
as the first black owner of a Georgia taxicab company. At the peak of 
its operation, he employed over 100 blacks between the Checker, Blue 
Bird and Red Bird Taxicab Companies. Since much of his clientele was 
comprised of black soldiers stationed at Fort Benning, his business 
filled both a social and economic void for members of the local 
community.
  Mr. Lunsford did not stop there--as an off-shoot to his taxicab 
business, he opened a Shell Service Station. Eventually, he closed his 
taxi business and opened a full auto station and grocery store, a 
forerunner to the modem convenience store. Along the way, he found a 
way to integrate his love of entertainment by opening the Pierce 
Amusement Company, leasing coin-operated vending and game machines to 
other establishments.
  Above all, Mr. Walter Lunsford was a successful, well-respected 
entrepreneur who placed God and family first. For 62 years, he 
accomplished it all with his wife, Sally Bryant Lunsford, at his side. 
Together they raised their ten college-educated children, an 
accomplishment in itself.
  Today, we thank and honor Mr. Lunsford, not only for his 
contributions to Columbus, but also for the example he set for others. 
He will be remembered as an inspirational figure to not only those in 
Columbus, but to all who have the opportunity to learn about his life.

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