[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E751-E752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      GREAT LOSS OF ALFRED BARNES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2008

  Ms. CASTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a great educator 
and leader, Alfred ``Al'' Barnes. The Tampa Bay community suffered a 
great loss on April 22, 2008 when he passed away.
  Mr. Barnes grew up in the North Boulevard Homes in West Tampa and 
graduated from Middleton High School in 1956. He went on to Fort Valley 
State College on a full football scholarship, where he completed his 
Bachelor of Science. Upon graduation, Mr. Barnes began his career in 
education. His first assignment was as a P.E. teacher at the all-black 
Progress Village Elementary. But as segregation ended and Tampa worked 
to integrate its schools, Mr. Barnes was transferred to the then all-
white Riverhills Elementary in 1965. It was a difficult time to be a 
black man in a white school, but Mr. Barnes' dedication to children and 
love of teaching moved him onward. In 1969 he became Tampa's first 
black varsity coach at Hillsborough High School, and for 25 years, he 
was the human relations specialist at Plant High School, helping at 
risk students.

[[Page E752]]

  Over his 40-year career in education. Mr. Barnes taught generations 
of Tampa students about acceptance and understanding, and his efforts 
are well remembered by them today. As Olga Barnes, his wife of 45 years 
puts it. ``The children fell in love with him, and he fell in love with 
them.'' Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Mr. Barnes' former student, considers 
him a role model and appointed him to the Tampa Sports Authority. 
Carlye Morgan, a member of my staff in DC, is a graduate of Plant and 
was a member of the Student Advisory Committee, a student club that Mr. 
Barnes started to promote race relations and leadership at the school. 
She remembers his capacity to bring students of all backgrounds 
together to work on common goals. ``He gave me the chance to be a 
leader at my school and taught me the power of mutual respect and 
acceptance. And students knew he was the type of teacher they could 
always come to if they needed help.''
  Outside of school. Mr. Barnes loved to scour flea markets for 
jewelry. A pocket watch and antiques collector, neighbors and friends 
rarely saw him without a healthy dose of his latest finds glittering 
back at them. As a member of First Baptist Church of College Hill, his 
collection of African artifacts was always a hit with the congregation 
during Black History Month.
  Madam Speaker. Al Barnes will he greatly missed by me and my 
community. Tampa is a more loving and accepting place because of his 
dedication to our children. My thoughts are with Olga, his children 
Alfred and Zane, and his grandchildren, Luisa, Angelita, Andy, Brian, 
Kayla, and Kelsey.

                          ____________________