[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN TRIBUTE OF BERTRAM M. LEE SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise in tribute to Bertram M. Lee Sr., a 
trailblazing entrepreneur who exemplified the truest ideals of courage, 
fortitude and commitment. Bertram believed that there was nothing he 
could not achieve or conquer with personal dedication and faith as his 
instruments.
  Bertram, who died in October 2003, gained national recognition as a 
successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He broke through the 
barriers that sought to limit his vision to accomplish more than was 
expected of a person of his background. He launched large, 
sophisticated firms and expanded opportunities for other Black 
entrepreneurs and executives in media and telecommunications 
industries. As lead investor and president of Dudley Station 
Corporation he was in the vanguard of minority ownership of major media 
properties. His efforts culminated in 1982, when New England Television 
Corporation, a minority-led consortium acquired WNEV-TV, Boston's CBS 
affiliate. Under his leadership as President of the corporation from 
1982-1986, both the value of the station and its journalistic quality 
increased.
  Bertram went on to become the first minority owner of a professional 
sports franchise as co-owner and managing partner of the Denver Nuggets 
basketball team. In banking, he showed outstanding leadership as 
chairman of the board of directors of Boston Bank of Commerce. He also 
served on the boards of Shawmut Bank and Reebok International, Inc. A 
common thread woven through all of his accomplishments was his ability 
to expand existing boundaries and open opportunities in areas that were 
traditionally closed to African-Americans.
  In politics, we worked together on the historic campaign to elect 
David Dinkins, the first African American mayor of my beloved city of 
New York. We shared a view of the world that believed in, and struggled 
for, the empowerment of African Americans no matter where they were on 
the globe. I urge my colleague to join me in recognizing this great 
American.

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