[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1172-E1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE FOR MR. CHARLES R. COUSINS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2009

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life 
and exceptional accomplishments of Charles R. Cousins. Charles Cousins 
has been an important part of the Denver African-American business 
community. A remarkable citizen, he merits our recognition and esteem 
as his leadership, service and lifelong devotion to the city of Denver 
has done much to enrich our community. His license plate: ``IOU-00'' 
reflected this self-made success story.
  Charles Cousins was born in Denver on New Year's Day, 1918, delivered 
by Justina Ford, the first African-American doctor in Colorado. The 
first son in a family of four daughters, he came to be called 
``Brother'' by family and friends, a name that stuck throughout his 
entire life. His parents, Charles L. and Alta raised a family of six 
children in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver. As a youngster, 
Charles started a lifetime of hard work making deliveries on his 
bicycle for drug stores and dry cleaners and catching worms in the 
summertime to sell to anglers at City Park.
  Charles Cousins began his business career while a student attending 
Manual High School in 1936. At Manual High, Charles found a way to 
provide music for the school dances of African American students that 
were segregated from those of white students. He did the same while a 
student at Colorado State University, beginning his long career in the 
jukebox industry.
  When white-owned jukebox businesses tried to take over the 
restaurants and bars where his machines were located, Cousins purchased 
the buildings, beginning his successful career in real estate. He was a 
major investor in Denver rental properties and ultimately became a 
community philanthropist. He owned properties throughout the metro 
area, including more than 30 buildings in the Five Points area.
  A lifetime jazz fan, Cousins is credited with being a key financial 
backer of the Five Points neighborhood's internationally-recognized 
jazz scene. Known as the ``Godfather of Jazz'' in Five Points, he made 
the famous Rossonian Hotel a must-stop venue for African American

[[Page E1173]]

musicians who were barred from other hotels because of racial 
discrimination.
  Raised in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver, Cousins never had a 
desire to leave his beloved community. His many associations include 
the Five Points Media Center and the Five Points Business Association. 
Cousins willed the Simpson Hotel at 28th and Welton Street to the Five 
Points Business Association upon his death. The organization has plans 
to establish a work-development center and art gallery on the site.
  Appointed in 1979 by Denver Mayor Bill McNichols, Cousins served on 
the Denver city zoning board for 23 years and served for 20 years as a 
member of the U.S. Olympic Organizing Committee.
  Charles Cousins was also a great advocate of education. He was 
instrumental in the development of Cole Junior High School's extension 
program that provided alternative education to students who were not 
able to learn and achieve in a traditional school environment. He also 
funded many scholarships for college students. He was a fixture at 
Manual High School and was honored as the school's ``Student of the 
Century'' during their 100th anniversary celebration in 1994.
  Charles was most proud of his civic work in the community and 
received numerous awards from various non-profit groups. He was a 
charter member of the Beta Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 
Inc.
  In 2003, Charles Cousins was honored with a plaza that bears his name 
at the new Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library in Five 
Points. He joined his longtime friends, former Tuskegee Airman and 
Denver Public Schools board member Omar Blair, and former Denver City 
Councilman Elvin Caldwell in the naming honors of the then newest 
branch of the Denver Public Library.
  Charles Cousins is survived by five siblings and his wife of 53 
years, Dorothy. His daughter, Dr. Renee Cousins, is a Denver 
pediatrician.

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