[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 126 (Monday, September 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO REVEREND SAM MANN

 Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr. President, I ask the Senate to join me 
today in honoring the work of Reverend Sam Mann, a leader in the Kansas 
City community. Reverend Mann's retirement is yet one more wonderful 
milestone in a life of service.
  Sam was raised in Eufala, AL, and made Kansas City his home as a 
young man. Over the years, he has been a tireless civil rights advocate 
in Kansas City and the Nation. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr. and participated in numerous activities to raise awareness of race 
and justice issues.
  Since 1971, Sam has been the pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist 
Church in downtown Kansas City. He has been the executive director of 
United Inner City Services, a multiservice community-based agency, 
since 1967.
  I have always known Reverend Mann as ``rubber band.'' This derives 
from the time I was walking with him through a roomful of young 
children who were attending a program he had designed that predated his 
establishment of the St. Mark center. From the beginning, Sam was 
always looking out for children. As we were walking through the room, 
the children were pulling on his coattail saying, ``Reverend Mann, 
Reverend Mann'' but it sounded like ``rubber band, rubber band.'' From 
that day forward, he has always been ``rubber band'' to me.
  Sam believes in the importance of education and has been a strong 
advocate for early childhood education. Under his leadership, St. Mark 
Child and Family Development Center was established. This center 
started in a church basement and now is located in a beautiful state-
of-the-art facility. In addition, the center serves as a neighborhood 
anchor, providing a safe, warm and attractive site for a variety of 
community services. St. Mark annually serves approximately 225 very low 
and low-income families through its early childhood education program, 
before- and after-school program and summer camp. These children and 
their families have been forever impacted by Sam's work and dedication.
  Sam was the founder of the Presbyterian Urban Ministers Network, was 
a cosponsor of Kansas City's Urban Peace & Justice Summit, and served 
on the Board of the Black Archives of Mid-America. For 25 years, he has 
served as chair of Kansas City's local chapter of the Southern 
Christian Leadership Conference.
  While we hope that retirement affords Sam some much deserved 
relaxation and time on the golf course, we also look forward to his 
continued involvement in education projects and social justice issues 
important to the lives of Kansas Citians.
  Mr. President, I ask that the Senate join me in congratulating and 
honoring Reverend Sam Mann on his retirement.

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