[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 129 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MR. ALVIN G. RANDOLPH

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today I am proud to honor the life of Mr. 
Alvin G. Randolph who passed away June 23, 2008. Mr. Randolph was a 
businessperson, a fine father, and served his community. He also played 
a role in desegregating the Lamar State College of Technology in 1956, 
giving a countless number of youth an equal opportunity for education 
no matter their race.
   Alvin was born in Orange, Texas, as the third of eleven children. He 
graduated from high school in 1943 and enrolled in Prairie View College 
shortly afterwards, where he worked as a repair person for room and 
board. He put his education on hold to serve his country when he was 
drafted into World War II as an officer candidate. After his service to 
his country, he returned home and attended Jefferson Junior College 
where he earned his real estate broker's license.
   At the same time, there was a tremendous social revolution happening 
in the United States. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the 
landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education, naming separate educational 
facilities inherently unequal and setting the stage for integration and 
the Civil Rights Movement. This opened the doors to schools and 
universities across the nation but there was still a segment of the 
population that was set on keeping them closed.
   As African-American students walked up to the doors of their new 
universities, they were often greeted with protests and picket lines 
and Lamar State College of Technology was no different. Nevertheless, 
Alvin and 25 other black students enrolled and were accepted to Lamar's 
campus of 5,455 students. They battled the almost riotous conditions 
and paved the way to an equal education for a student of any race.
   Randolph earned his business degree in 1958 and went on to study 
property law at Texas Southern University. He worked as a real estate 
broker, homebuilder, and life insurance underwriter. With his wife 
Jerodine, they had five children. He was active in both the Northside 
and Eleventh Street Churches of Christ and served on the Board of 
Directors at the L.L. Melton YMCA. He passed away at the age of 80.
   On behalf of the Second Congressional District of Texas, I honor Mr. 
Alvin Randolph for his courage in the face of tremendous adversity. He 
helped make our world a better place to live, and I applaud his 
unwavering service and dedication to the community. Alvin Randolph is a 
true American hero.

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