[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING DOLPHAS TROTTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor 
Dolphas Trotter upon being awarded the ``Community Health Champions 
Award'' at the 2009 West Fresno Health Care Coalition's 5th annual 
``This Is Your Life of Service'' lunch and awards ceremony. This year 
the ceremony will be held at the Radisson Hotel Conference Center in 
Fresno, California on Tuesday, November 3rd.
  Mr. Dolphas Trotter was born in 1940 in Idabel, Oklahoma. In 1945 the 
Trotter family moved cross-country and settled in Southwest Fresno, 
California. Mr. Trotter attended Washington Union High School where he 
played football. During his senior year, he participated in the annual 
Fresno City-County All-Star game, which earned him a football 
scholarship to College of the Pacific, known today as University of the 
Pacific. Mr. Trotter graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor's degree and 
returned to Fresno and began working for Fresno County Department of 
Social Services.
  Shortly after his return to Fresno, Mr. Trotter was drafted into the 
United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1969. This 
experience affirmed his belief in the value of education and community. 
When he returned to Fresno from his military service, he began a career 
in education. The first of many positions Mr. Trotter held in education 
was at Franklin Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher. He moved on 
to teach at Edison High School, where he later became the Vice 
Principal and the first African American principal of the school. Mr. 
Trotter had a successful career in the Fresno school system, including 
serving as Principal at Tioga Middle School and Cooper Middle School. 
For a brief time he served as the first African American interim 
superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District and then served as 
the Superintendent at New Millennium Charter Schools.
  Mr. Trotter was also a firm believer in community service. He sat on 
many boards and worked with many organizations, including the African 
American Historical and Cultural Museum Board of Directors, the 
Association of California School Administrators, Cedar Vista Hospital 
Advisory Board, Channel 24 Portrait of Success Board member, National 
Alliance of Black School Educators, State Center Community College 
Foundation and Washington Union School Board. For his service to these 
organizations Mr. Trotter has received many accolades.
  Mr. Trotter and his wife met while working at the Fresno County 
Department of Social Services. They were married in 1972 and raised 
four children, including two adopted daughters. Mr. Trotter passed away 
on March 18, 2009. He was a strong advocate and will be remembered as 
an inspirational role model for the people of Fresno and the residents 
of Southwest Fresno.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dolphas Trotter and 
recognize him upon being awarded the ``Community Health Champions 
Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and 
wishing the best for his family.

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