[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H839-H840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DR. CLIFFORD BELL JONES, SR. POST OFFICE

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 3468) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 1704 Weeksville Road in Elizabeth City, North 
Carolina, as the ``Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, Sr. Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3468

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DR. CLIFFORD BELL JONES, SR. POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1704 Weeksville Road in Elizabeth City, 
     North Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``Dr. 
     Clifford Bell Jones, Sr. Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, Sr. Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) and the gentleman from Connecticut 
(Mr. Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to join my colleagues today 
in the consideration of H.R. 3468, which seeks to name a postal 
facility on the campus of Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth 
City, North Carolina, after a great American, Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, 
Sr. Mr. Speaker, this bill has the support of the entire North Carolina 
delegation.
  Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, Sr., was born in Washington County, North 
Carolina, a very rural part of my congressional district. He and his 
family relocated to Virginia, and Dr. Jones spent his formative years 
in Hampton. Later he attended Lutheran College in Greensboro, North 
Carolina. In 1923, Dr. Jones received a Bachelor of Science degree from 
the great Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Dr. Jones 
earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1927 from the historic 
Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Shortly after being 
awarded his dental degree, Dr. Jones began his professional life in 
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where he practiced general dentistry 
for 66 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I am particularly proud to sponsor this legislation 
because my father and Dr. Jones were very close friends. They were 
classmates at Shaw. They were classmates at Meharry, and they fought 
together in World War I and spent their lifetimes in service to their 
community.
  Dr. Jones participated in many local and community activities in 
Elizabeth City. He was one of the first African Americans to run for 
the city council in Elizabeth City in 1957 and was defeated by only 28 
votes. Later, in the 1960s, Dr. Jones was appointed to serve on the 
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County School Board. He served as a deacon at 
the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Elizabeth City, and as a 
member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the Albemarle. He was 
a proud trustee emeritus of Elizabeth City State University.
  As I said a moment ago, a veteran of World War I, he was a member of 
American Legion Post 223.
  Dr. Jones was a member, as was my father, of Phi Beta Sigma 
Fraternity, and was a 32-degree Mason.
  Dr. Jones was a member of numerous professional organizations that 
included the Eastern North Carolina Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical 
Society, and the North Carolina Dental Society, among others.
  Dr. Jones was the recipient of several awards and honors throughout 
his professional career. He received the Meharry Medical College 
President's Award for Service to Mankind. I accompanied Dr. Jones and 
my father back to Meharry for their 50th reunion in 1977. It was a 
great occasion.
  Twice Dr. Jones was awarded the Delta Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi 
Fraternity's Certificate of Honor, and I'm sure the Speaker would take 
great pride in that, as the Speaker of the House today, the acting 
Speaker, is an Omega, for exceptional service to the citizens of 
northeastern North Carolina in the field of dentistry.
  He was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the City Council of 
Elizabeth City for his invaluable services on the city's human 
relations committee.
  Dr. Jones dedicated the better part of his 99 years serving mankind 
in his profession and through his community and involvement.
  Sadly, Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, Sr., passed away several years ago 
and leaves a rich history.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Dr. Jones for his outstanding service to 
my home State of North Carolina and to our country.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 3468.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the passing of this bill 
designating the post office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as the 
Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, Sr. Post Office.
  Dr. Jones led an honorable life serving his country, profession, and 
community with dignity for well over half a century.
  A veteran of World War I, Dr. Jones returned home to earn his 
bachelor of science from Shaw University and ultimately his doctorate 
of dental surgery from Meharry Medical College Dental School in 1927. 
He began his professional career in Elizabeth City, North

[[Page H840]]

Carolina, and found himself at home. He practiced general dentistry 
there for 66 years.
  Outside of the office, he remained extremely active in his community. 
With the encouragement of other council members, including the father 
of Mr. Butterfield, Dr. Jones ran for city council in 1957. He was 
defeated by just 28 votes. Though he did not win the seat, he was one 
of the first African Americans to run for city council.
  In the 1960s, Dr. Jones served on the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank 
County School Board and as deacon at his church.
  Throughout his life, Dr. Jones' contributions were recognized by 
those whom he touched. Among his many honors he received the Meharry 
Medical College President's Award for Service to Mankind and a special 
recognition award for loyalty and service to the dental profession from 
the Old North State Dental Society.
  Though not a native, Elizabeth City lost one of their own when Dr. 
Jones passed away in 1995 at the age of 99.
  I'm happy to rise today in support of this legislation honoring a 
dedicated professional, a wonderful human being, and a symbol of this 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind 
words.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3468.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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