[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT L. PITTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert L. 
Pitts, a champion of civil rights, integration, respectful dialogue, 
and nonviolence in southwestern Pennsylvania, Tomorrow night, the 
Allegheny County/City of Pittsburgh League of Minority Voters will 
honor Mr. Pitts for his many contributions to our community.
  Like the rest of our country, Pittsburgh and southwestern 
Pennsylvania have struggled long and hard with what has been aptly 
described as our country's original sin--slavery, and all of the 
racism, disclimination, segregation, and violence that have stemmed 
from it.
  I'm pleased to say that a great deal of much-needed progress has been 
made in the last 50 years--and much of the credit for that progress 
belongs to civil rights leaders like Robert Pitts. Our region is truly 
fortunate that this great civic leader has chosen to make Pittsburgh 
his home for the last 30-odd years.
  Despite family misfortune and a difficult childhood, Mr. Pitts has 
made many contributions to southwestern Pennsylvania, and our Nation, 
in his many different occupations and activities over the last 60 
years. He served his Nation in the Air Force and its predecessor, the 
Army Air Corps, for 20 years. He worked to end racism in the Catholic 
Church for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for nearly 10 years. He worked to 
promote equal employment opportunities in Pittsburgh as Administrator 
of the Agency of Western Pennsylvania and as Chair of the Pittsburgh 
NAACP's Labor and Industry Committee. He served as an elected public 
official--and notably as the first African-American mayor in western 
Pennsylvania. He ran his own business and worked as a private sector 
consultant for a number of years. He has given generously of his time 
as a volunteer on a number of local boards and organizations. And, 
finally, he has been a friend, mentor, and advisor to countless men, 
women, and children throughout his life. In short, he's been a dynamic 
force for good and an influential community leader for his entire, 
blessedly long and productive life.
  On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional 
District, I want to commend Mr. Pitts and thank his family for sharing 
him with us.

                          ____________________