[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO QUENTIN MEASE

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a giant in our community in Houston, Texas, that we lost just a few 
days ago.
  Quentin Mease was 100 years old, and he lived that life vigorously 
and with great fulfillment. He was a servant of the people. No, he was 
not elected, but he was one of the founding members of the National 
Urban League Houston chapter. He was a founding member of what is now 
called the Harris County Hospital District. One of the satellite 
hospitals was named after Quentin Mease.
  He was truly a giver, a philanthropic, a person who believed that he 
was, in fact, our brothers' and sisters' keeper. He lost his life, but 
he was full of life when he passed. He will be recognized on Thursday 
for a wake and Friday for a funeral.
  I believe the words of the President of the United States in his 
African American History Month that said, ``The ideals of the founders 
became more real and more true for every citizen of African American 
ancestry to realize our full potential as a Nation, and to uphold those 
ideals for all who enter into our borders and embrace the notion that 
we all are endowed with certain inalienable rights.''
  Quentin Mease, fallen in battle, believed that we were all endowed 
with certain inalienable rights. He gave his all. He wanted us all to 
be embraced under this bright and shining flag. He believed in America. 
As an African American, he is a giant, and I thank him for highlighting 
young people like myself to give us an opportunity to go forward into 
the future.
  Thank you, Mr. Mease. May God bless you. And may God bless you as you 
rest in peace.

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