[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 107 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF E. PAT LARKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2008

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true 
friend and leader who is widely respected, and much loved by the 
citizens of Pompano Beach, Florida, The Honorable E. Pat Larkins. Pat 
was born in Pompano Beach in 1942. He graduated Blanche Ely High School 
in 1960 and enrolled in Tennessee State University. In 1962, he was 
hired as housing director for the local community action agency, and in 
1969, he was one of only two Florida recipients of a Ford Foundation 
fellowship to attend the National Housing Institute in Washington, DC.
  Pat was subsequently certified by HUD as a housing development 
specialist, and in 1970, he went to work for the Foundation for Co-Op 
Housing in Chicago, Illinois. In 1972, he returned to Florida and 
created the Broward County Minority Builders Coalition, Inc. where he 
still serves as C.E.O. He is also currently president and partner of 
Malar Construction, State licensed general contractors.
  In addition to these accomplishments, Pat has also had a long career 
in the public sector and has, helped to change the face of local 
politics. He was the first chairperson of the City of Pompano Beach 
Community Development Committee. In 1982, he was the second African-
American elected to the Pompano Beach City Commission. He was just the 
eighth African-American local elected official in Broward County and 
served 19 consecutive years as city commissioner. In that time, he 
served a record seven terms as mayor and three terms as vice-mayor, 
positions to which he was elected by his fellow Commissioners. He also 
served an unprecedented 14 consecutive years on the Broward County 
Planning Council and was the first African-American chair of that body.
  After an unsuccessful run for Broward County Commission in 2001, Pat 
Larkins was reelected to the Pompano Beach City Commission in 2003 
where he presently serves as vice-mayor. Pat is sometimes referred to 
as the dean of Broward black elected officials because of his 
remarkable leadership and role as one of the founders of that group.
  He is also recognized throughout the State as a leader and 
spokesperson for minority involvement in government and business. 
During his time as mayor of Pompano Beach, the city hired the first 
black fire chief and first black city clerk in Broward County. Pat 
initiated the city ordinance to promote minority small business 
concerns, and along with two others, helped to create the first 
minority business enterprise program for Broward County government.
  In addition to his many professional achievements, Pat Larkins has 
also taken an active role in countless public service, social, and 
religious organizations. He is a life member of the NAACP, serves on 
the Broward County Boys and Girls Club corporate board, the Juvenile 
Justice Intensive Halfway House, and the Florida black caucus local 
elected officials, and is a longtime member of Hopewell Baptist Church. 
He is a founding member of the Urban League board, as well as a leader 
in the Superintendents' Commission on Public Education, National Black 
Mayors' Conference, and U.S. Conference of Mayors.
  Madam Speaker, Pat Larkins has had an indelible impact on the well-
being of his community, as he has worked tirelessly to ensure that 
every individual has access to safe and adequate housing. Under his 
leadership, Pompano Beach recently demolished a 140-home development 
that had been rundown and falling apart and relocated the owners to a 
modern development of affordable homes on an even swap arrangement at a 
considerable cost savings to the city. Over the past 5 years, he has 
led his city in providing financial and other assistance that has 
resulted in the erection of more than 800 affordable multifamily units.
  Pat has often said that he wants to be remembered not for his 
personal longevity, but most of all for helping to improve the lives of 
others. In this, he has certainly succeeded. Few people I have known 
have accomplished so much for the good of their fellow citizens and 
their community. I am fortunate to call him my friend.




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