[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 117 (Friday, July 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO BEECHIE BROOKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2007

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
community leader and real estate and economic development visionary of 
the 4th Congressional District, Beechie Brooks.
  Beechie Brooks' vision was instrumental in revitalizing and changing 
the character of neighborhoods in Milwaukee's central city by 
developing the Halyard Park subdivision. The United Realty Group, a 
firm that was formed from the merger of several African American real 
estate companies in 1976, gained approval from the City of Milwaukee's 
Redevelopment Authority to develop a subdivision of single-family 
suburban style homes. Mr. Brooks' leadership was integral to creating 
this ``model'' of privately financed housing in the central city that 
continues to draw the attention of people in urban areas around the 
country. It serves as a testament to the fact that central cities can 
provide the same quality of life as suburbs.
  Beechie Brooks did not rest on his laurels but continued to spearhead 
development in the community including: assisted in the development of 
the Northtown Shopping Center on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and 
North Avenue which has been renamed Brooks Plaza in his honor; designed 
and built Brook's X-Press Car Washing Plant on 7th Street and W. North 
Avenue; oversaw the development of the Masterpiece Supper Club and 
Motor Lodge on 6th and W. Walnut Streets; and was a founder and 
treasurer of the state's second oldest African American-owned financial 
institution, the North Milwaukee State Bank. Mr. Brooks also served on 
the City of Milwaukee's Board of Assessment, the Wisconsin Real Estate 
License Examining Board and the NAACP Milwaukee Chapter's Executive 
Board and chaired their Housing Committee.
  Mr. Brooks was devoted to his wife of 58 years, Vernadine who passed 
away in 2004. They were both active members of St. Mark AME Church. He 
was instrumental in planning and constructing the building the church 
currently occupies and continues to serve on St. Mark's Trustee Board 
that manages the church's real estate holdings. Mr. Brooks is also a 
member of the Anvil Housing Board which manages the church's two senior 
citizen housing complexes.
  I am honored to have this opportunity to pay tribute to Beechie 
Brooks for his unwavering commitment to making Milwaukee a great place 
to live and work.

                          ____________________