[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E312-E313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING DR. SAM HORTON DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2009

  Ms. CASTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Sam 
Horton and to acknowledge his contributions to the Tampa Bay area.
  Sam Horton, a native of rural Hillsborough County, is a direct 
descendent of a founding family of the historical township of 
Bealsville. Bealsville was founded by 12 freed slave families after the 
Civil War. The courageous group homesteaded by clearing their lands, 
built homes and began to farm the land. They were dedicated to building 
a life of hope and faith in God based on their newfound freedom.
  Dr. Horton was educated in Florida starting with Glover Elementary 
and Marshall High School in Plant City. He received his Bachelor's 
degree at Florida A&M University in 1949 and his Doctorate at Nova 
Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale.
  Dr. Horton immersed himself into the Tampa community after finishing 
his education. He started teaching in the Hillsborough County School 
District in 1949, becoming a principal in 1965. Dr. Horton's passion 
for education and his community inspired him to establish a local 
chapter of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Horton 
began to mentor and encourage black educators in hopes of broadening 
the pool of talented educators. He devoted free time to Phi Beta Sigma 
Fraternity, Beulah Baptist Church, the Guardsmen and the NAACP.
  Dr. Horton's career included a major first. He became the first black 
General Director for Secondary Education in the Hillsborough County 
School District in 1978. As a district administrator, he travelled 
several times to the African continent consulting with educators to 
help them improve their educational systems. Dr. Horton retired from 
the school system in 1991. The district honored him by naming the 
Jefferson High School Stadium the Dr. Sam Horton Stadium.
  Dr. Horton served as president of the Hillsborough NAACP. During his 
tenure, he consolidated the Tampa and Plant City branches. Working 
closely with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Dr. Horton publicly opposed 
education plans that would lead to more segregated schools in 
Hillsborough County. He also co-founded the Empowerment Center which 
helps black entrepreneurs and provides tutoring for children. Dr. 
Horton has encouraged many local youths to participate in national 
academic and arts driven competitions, NAACP's ACT-SO, exposing these 
youths to top universities, colleges, and scholarships.
  Dr. Horton was married to his wife. Doris, for 55 years and is the 
father of Sheila Warren and Dawyan Horton. He is the proud grandfather 
of Exley Jr. and Michael Warren, Clifton, Jason and Erin Horton. 
Michael and Exley are following in their grandfather's footsteps by 
teaching in Florida public schools.
  The Tampa community honors Dr. Sam Horton for his outstanding 
contributions to the Tampa Bay area. His career in education serves as 
an inspiration and will continue to influence the lives of students and 
educators he touched in our community and abroad.

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