[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4840, A BILL TO NAME A POST OFFICE IN 
                      HONOR OF CLARENCE D. LUMPKIN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARY JO KILROY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 24, 2010

  Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
4840, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1979 Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, as the 
``Clarence D. Lumpkin Post Office'' in honor of Clarence Lumpkin, a 
long-time community activist who has worked tirelessly on behalf of his 
Columbus neighborhood of Linden. Mr. Lumpkin has had a profound impact 
on many families in central Ohio, and his community involvement and 
activism have helped ensure that the Linden community retains its post 
office.
  Growing up in the rural South, Clarence Lumpkin first moved to the 
Linden neighborhood after serving in the Army during World War II. 
Proving to be a tireless community activist, Mr. Lumpkin became 
affectionately known as ``the Mayor of Linden'' for his efforts. He 
successfully advocated for the needs of his community numerous times 
over the past several decades, persuading the city to separate storm 
and sanitation sewers to stop basement flooding, to build a long-needed 
new fire station, and ensuring the Department of Transportation did not 
divide the Linden community with interstate highway construction. His 
many accomplishments also include his work with the Community 
Development Block Grant task force to secure home improvement grants 
for seniors and low-interest loans for Linden residents, leading anti-
drug marches, and making Linden the first inner city community with 
lights on every residential street.
  Mr. Lumpkin once presented a speech before the Columbus City Council 
in 1974 regarding the needs of the Linden community, calling for ``a 
point of pride'' to be developed to motivate interest in Linden and 
give the community a sense of direction. His vision became reality in 
2007 with the dedication of the ``Clarence D. Lumpkin Point of Pride 
Building,'' the last building to be built by the Greater Linden 
Development Corporation as a part of its Four Corners Vision Plan for 
commercial redevelopment, and a testament to his diligence and 
activism.
  As a father, grandfather, and mentor, Mr. Lumpkin worked to instill 
in others the same virtues of hard work and community involvement that 
drive him. His son, Doug, and his daughter, Carolyn, who worked with me 
during my time as a county commissioner, continue his legacy of public 
service through their work in state and local government. Mr. Lumpkin 
also had a tremendous impact as a mentor through the Simba program, a 
program in which African-American men mentor African-American boys, 
most of whom have no father or other adult male in their lives. Because 
of his efforts, a young man Mr. Lumpkin mentored is expected to 
graduate from college in 2011.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation and to recognize Mr. 
Lumpkin's many achievements and decades of service to his community. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Clarence Lumpkin and his 
lifetime of community involvement and activism by supporting the 
passage of H.R. 4840.

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