[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 97 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE REVEREND WILLIAM A. LAWSON ON FATHER'S DAY

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                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2008

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, this Father's Day, I would like 
to honor a man who exemplifies what it means to be an excellent 
father--a man who is a community leader, an upstanding and moral man, 
and a positive role model for our youth. The Reverend Dr. William A. 
Lawson, who lives in my congressional district, has done great things, 
and I am proud to express my congratulations to him for all he has done 
for our community.
  Reverend Lawson is a tremendous father figure and fixture in our 
community. He has been married to his wife Audrey for over fifty years 
and admirably raised four children. He was the founding pastor of 
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and continues to lead that congregation. 
Reverend Lawson has also been deeply involved in the community even 
outside of his church, having conceived and organized the United Way's 
Houston Homeless Initiative, which raised over $4 million in a four-
year period. He also organized the Houston area's largest and most 
productive scouting program, leading to his receipt of the 1991 Silver 
Beaver Award in support of scouting. Clearly, Reverend Lawson has 
demonstrated the very kind of leadership that we need in our 
communities to help our youth develop into successful adults.
  Reverend Lawson has long been a valued member of the community, and 
rightly so. On this occasion of Father's Day, I would like to recognize 
Reverend Lawson for all of his accomplishments and urge people across 
America to look to leaders such as Reverend Lawson as role models for 
their work in inspiring and engaging our youth to live productive, 
positive lives.

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