[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4031-H4032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO THE LATE RALPH FORD, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to 
associate myself with the remarks of my former colleagues who have 
talked about foreclosures and predatory lending.
  As a matter of fact, I also want to thank the committee that I 
established a few weeks ago, made up of about 50 people, including 
State Representative LuShawn Ford, who has agreed to chair. I come from 
the community that pretty much led the movement for community 
reinvestment in this country under the leadership of a woman named Gail 
Cincotta who was the head of the Organization for a Better Austin, and 
then Gail came to Washington and went ahead and founded the National 
Training and Action Committee which still exists to this day.
  So I simply want to associate with those comments made by my 
colleagues.
  But, Mr. Speaker, I really also rise with a great level of sadness to 
pay tribute to a good son, a good husband, a good father, a good 
citizen and one of Chicago's finest of the men and women in blue, 
Police Sergeant Ralph Ford, Jr.
  It has been my pleasure and that of my wife to know the Ford family 
for many years. I first knew Ralph's mother, Mrs. Jacqueline Ford, when 
she was a pioneer community activist serving on the board of the Martin 
Luther King, Jr, neighborhood health center. She and my wife Vera have 
attended Carey Tercentenary AME Church together, and I say forever.
  I first knew Ralph well when he was a young Chicago police officer. I 
had begun to run for public office. He was a diligent and enthusiastic 
volunteer who was not afraid to be associated with our campaign, even 
though I was running as what we call an Independent against the 
existing political machine.
  The fact that Ralph had attended the University of Arkansas at Pine 
Bluff added another star to his crown because I had attended the same 
school when it had another name, Arkansas AM&N College, before it 
attained university status.
  Being the excellent police officer that he was, Ralph made sergeant 
and outdistanced many of his peers. He was jovial, a great talker, had 
a great personality and a wonderful sense of humor.
  Family meant everything to Ralph. He was totally devoted to his wife 
and children, and he had a great affinity for other members of his 
family, and of course, he and his mother Jackie had an absolute long-
standing love affair.

[[Page H4032]]

  Of course, Ralph passed away a few days ago. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant 
Ralph Ford, Jr, was an absolute credit to his law enforcement 
profession, the apple of his wife and family's eyes and a joy to 
humanity. He shall be sorely missed.

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