[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 83 (Thursday, June 4, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H6157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WELCOMING THE REVEREND KENNETH L. SIMON

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Ohio is recognized 
for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome Reverend 
Kenny Simon to the House to lead us in prayer today. He is Youngstown 
born and Youngstown educated. He is a graduate of East High School and 
Youngstown State University. He did his biblical and religious training 
in Wheaton, Illinois. He was ordained in 1993, and in 1995 he succeeded 
his father, Reverend Lonnie Simon, as pastor of the New Bethel Baptist 
Church in Youngstown, Ohio.
  In addition to his pastorate, Reverend Kenny Simon is very much 
involved in our community. He is the president of the board of Eagle 
Heights Academy. He is the chairman of the Mayor's Human Relations 
Commission. He is a board member of Crime Stoppers of Youngstown, past 
president of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches, past board 
member of the Western Reserve Port Authority, and a 2002 graduate of 
Leadership Mahoning Valley. Pastor Simon is the president of the 
Community Mobilization Coalition, a political organization that 
promotes voter registration and informs the urban community about the 
importance of voting and voting issues.
  Reverend Kenny Simon and his wife, Wendy Wainwright, have three 
children, Keisha, Kenny and David. And as most of us do, he stands on 
the shoulders of his father, who is now pastor emeritus of New Bethel 
Baptist Church where he has served since 1962, Reverend Lonnie Simon. 
He too has been involved in many community activities, including 
service on the Youngstown Board of Education from 1972 to 1975 and was 
in the first Leadership Youngstown class in 1985.
  In 1965, Reverend Lonnie Simon was one of the charter leaders of the 
March on Montgomery under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., and participated in the Poor People's Campaign here in Washington, 
D.C. in 1969. Reverend Lonnie Simon and his wife of 58 years, Florence, 
have four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, it was an honor for us to be addressed by such a 
distinguished individual with such a distinguished family here at the 
House of Representatives.

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