[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 58 (Monday, April 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING EDWARD H. LEWIS AS HE IS HONORED BY THE GREATER NEW HAVEN 
                                 NAACP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 14, 2008

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to join the Greater New Haven NAACP and the New Haven community 
in extending my sincere congratulations to my dear friend, Edward H. 
Lewis, as he is honored at this year's Freedom Fund Awards dinner with 
the Lifetime Achievement Award.
  The Freedom Fund Awards dinner is a time not only to honor those who 
have made an impact on our community, but to renew our commitment to 
those ideals upon which the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People was founded. For nearly nine decades, the Greater New 
Haven NAACP has been the voice of our African-American community and 
has improved countless lives. Their fight for justice has been 
tireless, and their efforts have gone a long way toward making sure 
that everyone will enjoy equal opportunity. Those honored with the 
annual Freedom Fund Awards are a reflection of this organization's good 
work--of the NAACP's commitment to ensuring a promising future for our 
families, our children, and our communities.
  Edward H. Lewis, known to family and friends as ``Teo,'' is a native 
of my hometown, New Haven, Connecticut and we could not be more proud 
of all that he has accomplished. I have been fortunate to know him for 
many years and consider myself blessed to call him my friend. We worked 
as community organizers together at the Community Action Institute and 
later, served together in the National Urban Fellow Program. Teo went 
to Washington as a legislative assistant to then Senator Henry Jackson 
and was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the U.S. Small Business 
Administration as Associate Administrator for Procurement. After 
leaving Washington, he brought his wealth of government experience to 
the emerging cable industry. He has worked in several capacities but is 
perhaps best known for his work with BET networks where his work in 
marketing and event promotion for both BET and BET on Jazz redefined 
the title of Director of Marketing. Today, Teo is Vice President of 
Government Relations for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats where he is 
utilizing his multitude of talents to develop both local and state 
government relationships as well as build a positive relationship with 
the business community. He is a remarkable individual whose 
professional life has always enriched the surrounding community.
  In addition to his innumerable professional contributions, Teo has 
also devoted countless hours to a number of civic and social 
organizations. He currently serves on the board of the Freedom Theater 
in Philadelphia, the advisory committee for the International 
Association of Jazz Educators, on the Board of Trustees at Discovery 
Place Charlotte North Carolina, as well as on the Board of Directors at 
Theater Charlotte, WTVI Public Television, and the Bobby Phills 
Foundation. He is also a member of the Charlotte Rotary, 100 Black Men 
of Charlotte, the Business Committee on Higher Education for the 
Institute for Emerging Issues and the advisory board for the Mint 
Museum and the Mint Museum of Craft and Design. There are few like Teo 
who give so much of themselves back to their communities--he is a 
community treasure.
  To be awarded with the Greater NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award is 
a reflection of all that Teo has accomplished as a community member, 
advocate, professional, volunteer, mentor and friend. For his many 
invaluable contributions to the community and to those ideals at the 
very heart of the NAACP, I am proud to join his children Todd, 
Kimberly, Derek, and Barry, as well as all of those gathered this 
evening in extending my deepest thanks and appreciation to Edward H. 
Lewis as he is bestowed with this very special honor by the Greater New 
Haven NAACP. His is a legacy that is sure to inspire many generations 
to come.

                          ____________________