[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF NORRIS GREGORY, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2011

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Congress to pay tribute to 
Norris Gregory, Jr., a respected community member and San Bernardino's 
first black city councilman. Norris passed away at this home on April 
21, 2011, at the age of 85.
  Born on the Fort Riley military base, Norris was raised and began his 
education in Kansas. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Washburn 
University. He later completed his Master of Education at the 
University of Kansas. He also completed classes at University of 
California, Riverside and California State University at Los Angeles.
  Norris was a prominent member of the San Bernardino community and he 
will be remembered for all that he gave to the local residents. He 
served as a member of many important civil organizations including the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. He was also a founding member of 
the San Bernardino Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a 
member of the Phi Delta Kappa national honorary educational fraternity. 
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity honored Norris as Man of the Year.
  Norris was perhaps best known for being San Bernardino's first black 
city councilman. He served two four-year terms in the Sixth Ward from 
1967 to 1975, breaking San Bernardino's color barrier. Norris told the 
Black Voice News that ``Schools were segregated, and most blacks were 
relegated to menial jobs. Blacks had no power and no voice in 
government . . . but you can make a difference. You can change the 
law.''
  San Bernardino has lost a trailblazer and a role model. Norris has 
been credited for paving the way for others like John Hobbs, Valerie 
Pope-Ludlam, Betty Dean Anderson, and Rikke Van Johnson. His wife, 
Salena Gregory, reflects, ``He was a very good man. He did a lot for 
San Bernardino.''
  Salena and Gregory were married for 64 years. They had one son, the 
late Norris P. Gregory III, one granddaughter Jessica L.G. Tucker, and 
two great-grandsons, Jason and Justin Tucker. My thoughts and prayers, 
along with those of my wife, Barbara, and my children, Mayor Pro Tem 
Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie, and Jennifer are with Norris' family at 
this time. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in 
honoring a local hero, Norris Gregory, Jr.

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