[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1479-E1481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOAN GLADDEN MACK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 2009

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
trailblazing communicator and deaf friend, Joan Gladden Mack, upon her 
retirement after a 28-year career in television and radio. Ms. Gladden 
is a remarkable woman who I have known since our days as students 
together at South Carolina State College.
  Joan Gladden was born in a close-knit Gullah community on James 
Island, South Carolina. She graduated as salutatorian of Gresham-
Meggett High School in 1960, and received scholarships to attend South 
Carolina State. Joan was gifted in the sciences, and majored in biology 
with the intention of pursuing a career in medicine or physical 
therapy. But her brothers persuaded her to join them in New York, where 
she took a job as a program director for the New York City Youth Board.
  After four years in the ``Big Apple,'' Joan decided to return home 
where she continued her work with youth as the program director for the 
YMCA. She later served as a caseworker for the Charleston County 
Department of Social Services and a teacher in the County's Manpower 
Program. It was during her time at the Manpower Program, that Joan's 
career path changed.
  In 1972, many media outlets, including WCSC-TV in Charleston, started 
recruiting African Americans for on-air positions. While Joan had no 
formal training in broadcast journalism, many leaders in the black 
community encouraged Joan to apply. She went to apply during her lunch 
hour and was asked to stay for an interview. She returned the next day 
for an on-air audition and, as they say, the rest is history.
  Ms. Mack was hired the same day as her audition and became the public 
service director and co-host of ``Kaleidoscope,'' a morning talk show 
on WCSC-TV. Despite landing the job, Joan was unsure of the longevity 
of her new career and decided to continue teaching with Manpower in the 
evenings just in case things didn't work out.
  Her talent and tenacity ensured Joan's success. She became a local 
celebrity and a role model for both blacks and whites. After spending 
five years at WCSC-TV, Joan moved to WCBD-TV where she became a news 
reporter and later anchored the news. Yet she yearned to do more 
reporting that would allow her to have an impact on the community. She 
became an investigative reporter and covered three stories of which she 
is especially proud: one involving teen pregnancy, another prison 
overcrowding and the third involved abuse in the state mental hospital.

[[Page E1480]]

  After 14 years in the news business, Joan began looking for a greater 
challenge. She requested a position in the station's management, which 
had no African American representation. Her request was denied, and 
Joan felt it was time to move on.
  In 1985, Joan was hired by the College of Charleston as its media 
resources coordinator. She rose to serve as the university's public 
relations director and director of administration. Ten years into her 
work at the College of Charleston, Joan was presented with an 
opportunity to keep her hands in broadcasting, and jumped at the 
chance.
  In 1995, South Carolina ETV closed some of its broadcast sites around 
the state. One of those sites was on the USS Yorktown in Mt. Pleasant. 
The College of Charleston was asked if it would house the broadcast 
equipment from that studio and in return the college received 30 
minutes of air time for a weekly show. ``Conversations With Joan Mack'' 
was born, and the show has aired for 14 years on Thursday evenings at 
6:30 p.m. on public radio stations throughout South Carolina. The show 
focuses on politics, social issues and the arts, and I am honored to 
have been a guest on Joan's show on several occasions.
  In addition to her life in broadcast journalism, Joan devotes time to 
her faith, which she credits with keeping her grounded. After attending 
Catholic masses with friends in college, Joan researched the religion 
and converted to Catholicism. She has served as president of the local 
and state levels of the National Council of Catholic Women, and as 
director of the Atlanta Province, which allowed her to represent the 
region on the national board. She also serves as a lector and 
Eucharistic minister at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Charleston.
  Joan is married to Charles Mack, who worked for Amtrak. They raised 
daughters, Dandria Williams-Clark and Kashauna Simmons, and son, 
Charles Austin Mack. Today the couple are the proud grandparents of 
eight grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in 
congratulating Joan Mack on her groundbreaking career and well-deserved 
retirement. I am sure Joan will continue her community involvements, 
and being a role model for many in the Charleston community. I wish her 
Godspeed and all the best in the next phase of her life.
    

[[Page E1481]]



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