[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PROFESSOR CHARLES E. DIRKS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my good 
friend Professor Charles Dirks, on the occasion of his retirement from 
Los Angeles Mission College. I have had the pleasure of working with 
him on important issues in our community for more than two decades and 
know firsthand of his many accomplishments.
  Professor Dirks comes from a long line lineage of community 
activists, a lineage that has helped fuel his tireless fight for 
Southwest College, Mission College and the entire Los Angeles school 
system.
  Upon graduating from Occidental College, Professor Dirks got an 
invitation from R. Sargent Shriver, the Director of the Peace Corps to 
join ``Ghana One'' and teach in the very first Peace Corps group. 
During this time, he built two schools in Ghana and helped build the 
first public library in Liberia. He also set up community development 
training programs for the Peace Corps in Puerto Rico and helped build 
flood control dams in Kenya. This experience led to his lifelong 
mission of rebuilding and working in the Los Angeles education 
community's areas of need.
  By joining the community college district, and becoming the Faculty 
Guild President, Professor Dirks helped erect permanent buildings in 
the north-east San Fernando Valley, where a college was most needed. A 
long time volunteer in politics, he used his experience as a co-
campaign coordinator for Bobby Kennedy to lobby then-city councilman 
Tom Bradley on getting permanent structures on the Southwest College 
campus.
  Professor Dirks knows that ``it takes a village'' and over the years 
he has received numerous accolades and great support from his 
community. He is deserving of commendation for his tireless campaign to 
secure adequate higher education in the northeast San Fernando Valley. 
With a combination of union backing and political tenacity, Professor 
Dirks was able to secure a budget for Mission College from then 
Governor Deukmajian. As one of the founding faculty members of Mission 
College, he was instrumental in organizing the faculty into a union and 
putting together support for a permanent site and buildings. The 
Chancellor and both the California State Senate and Assembly have named 
Professor Dirks ``The Faculty Father of Mission College.''
  Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in 
saluting Professor Dirks for his impressive career and dedication to 
the people of the San Fernando Valley, and to congratulate him on the 
occasion of his retirement.

                          ____________________