[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 62 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E720-E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO RICHARD KELLY, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND JUSTICE ADVOCATE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 29, 2010

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, for as long as I can remember, 
Richard (Dick) Kelly was always at meetings, marches, demonstrations, 
political rallies and in Chicago, doing what we call door knocking or 
walking precincts during political campaigns. Dick was what we called a 
community organizer, one who spent most of their time working on 
issues, raising awareness, solving problems and being engaged, for the 
most part without pay. Richard was an idealist who never gave up on 
hope.
  He started work in Mississippi in 1964, spent time there, returned to 
Chicago and Oak Park and settled into a lifetime of social activism. 
Richard grew up in the Beverly Community of Chicago, graduated from the 
St. Ignatius College Prep and got a degree in Political Science from 
Notre Dame University. In Mississippi he taught at Freedom Schools for 
black children, and being white, was arrested several times for minor 
infractions, e.g., jay-walking.
  Richard taught in the Chicago Public Schools for twenty years, drove 
a taxi for another fifteen. He was active with the Chicago Teachers 
Union, had few material needs and spent most of his money on 
newspapers, magazines and books. He worked for a brief period with 
Governor Dan Walker's Administration as a labor liaison, was active 
with fair-housing activities in Oak Park and became an active member of 
the St. Giles Catholic Church. I extend condolences and best wishes to 
his wife, children, siblings, and other family members.

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