[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             IN TRIBUTE TO
                           PERCY JULIAN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2008

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of 
Mr. Percy Julian, Jr., a pioneering civil rights and civil liberties 
attorney from my home State of Wisconsin. My friend, Percy Julian, Jr., 
passed away on February 24, 2008, at the age of 67.
  Mr. Percy Julian, Jr. helped to make the civil rights laws passed in 
the Martin Luther King, Jr. era real tools for justice. He became best 
known for representing University of Wisconsin-Madison students charged 
in the Dow Chemical demonstrations in the 1960s, and further for 
handling pioneering employment discrimination and voting rights class 
action suits across the United States, often in cooperation with the 
NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
  Percy Julian, Jr. grew up in the Chicago area but made Wisconsin his 
home. He was son to Percy Julian, Sr., an acclaimed scientist of the 
20th century. A 2-hour documentary on Julian Sr., ``Forgotten Genius,'' 
which aired last year, not only highlighted his enormous contributions 
as a chemist, but also detailed how racism had hampered his career. 
Julian, Jr. said of his father in the documentary, ``My father took 
advantage of the country's promise of equality, but was in some ways 
undone by the country's failure to live up to that promise.'' Julian 
Jr. spent much of his legal career insuring the country met its 
promises.
  Percy Julian, Jr. was both a fierce advocate and a model for other 
attorneys in promoting the importance of civility. While serving as a 
State senator in Wisconsin, I called upon Percy Julian, Jr. to utilize 
his expertise on voting rights and civil rights issues. His presence 
often caused the other side to retreat rather than face his formidable 
knowledge base.
  He is survived by his wife, Jan Blackmon; daughter, Kathy Julian; and 
sister, Faith Julian. Wisconsin and our country have lost a valuable 
leader and a civil rights and civil liberties pioneer. Percy Julian, 
Jr.'s work in the areas of fair housing, voting rights, school 
desegregation, and first amendment issues have proved invaluable in 
preserving the rights of all people in our State and our Nation. I 
extend my condolences to his family and friends on this tremendous 
loss. Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to 
Percy Julian, Jr.

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