[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN REMEMBRANCE OF JULE SUGARMAN, FOUNDER OF HEAD START

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2010

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and work of Jule 
Sugarman, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 83. I extend 
my thoughts and prayers to his wife, his children, and his family and 
friends during this very difficult time.
  Some of my colleagues and those listening in the gallery or on 
television may not recognize the name Jule Sugarman, but they have no 
doubt heard of or been impacted by the Head Start Program, which he 
founded and helped design and implement as part of President Lyndon 
Johnson's War on Poverty.
  Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1927, Mr. Sugarman came to Washington to 
attend American University, and later served in the Army for two years.
  He amassed a record of achievement and dedication to public service, 
the American people, and to children and families specifically: serving 
as New York City's human resources administrator; Washington State's 
Department of Social and Health Services; executive director of the 
Special Olympics International; and deputy director of the Office of 
Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter, just to name a few 
of his accomplishments.
  But I would like to thank Mr. Sugarman explicitly and affectionately 
for his work on getting the Head Start program up and running. I can 
unequivocally say that Head Start changed my life and turned it in a 
new direction.
  I vividly remember working as a service representative for the 
Pacific Telephone Company in Los Angeles in the mid 1960s, and getting 
excited over a newspaper advertisement I saw for the new Head Start 
program. They were seeking staff for this initiative, which would be 
run by Sargent Shriver out of the Office of Economic Opportunity.
  Being a mother of young children, and seeking a career path where I 
could help people and make a difference--despite not having official 
teaching credentials--I eagerly applied to be an assistant teacher.
  To my surprise and delight, I was hired as a Head Start assistant 
teacher. In Los Angeles County the Head Start Program worked closely 
with community nonprofit groups like the International Federation for 
Settlements and Neighborhood Centers, so I worked with great people who 
were truly committed to putting children on a solid path to an 
education, combating poverty, and making our communities a safer, 
better place to live.
  Head Start encouraged me to finish my education; taught me the 
importance and value of community organizing; made me acutely aware of 
the many issues facing our young children; and inspired me to get 
involved in politics to make a difference in the lives of others, 
particularly the least of these.
  Now I am well aware that in 45 years many things have changed--some 
good, some bad--for our nation's children and schools. But I am 
convinced that Head Start's original mission to ``promote school 
readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children 
through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and 
other services to enroll children and families,'' is as relevant as 
ever. I look forward to supporting it in each and every way that I can.
  Thank you, Mr. Sugarman. Thank you for your wisdom, your foresight, 
your progressive philosophy, and your dedication to putting all 
children on an equal playing field.
  I, and millions of other Americans, continue to be inspired by your 
compassion, your humanity, and your life's work, all of which made our 
country greater.

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