[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 84 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION AND REMEMBRANCE OF MR. LUTHER R. GATLING

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute 
to my dear friend Luther Gatling who recently passed away peacefully in 
his home in Teaneck, New Jersey on Tuesday, May 31st. As I speak with 
profound sorrow, I ascend to celebrate a life well lived and to 
remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable man who, 
over his many years of service in government and credit counseling, 
etched his name in history as The Credit Doctor.
  Luther dedicated his life to public service and championed diversity. 
And, as a long-time civil rights and business leader, he possessed a 
remarkable moral compass that inspired fiscal responsibility upon many 
disadvantaged people. Mr. Gatling has provided mentorship to our youth 
and much needed credit guidance to all. He stood for the empowerment, 
development, and prosperity of our Nation.
  Luther R. Gatling was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on September 9, 
1931. He received his Bachelors degree in business administration from 
Temple University. Luther then went on to serve as the president of the 
Waterbury City Council. He became the mayor of Waterbury before the age 
of 30 and later served as the assistant director at the Manpower 
Assistance of Boston program in Washington, D.C.
  In my community of Harlem, Mr. Gatling is well known for his service 
as the President of the New York Chapter of the One Hundred Black Men, 
Inc. for 8 years. He also served on the executive committee and Board 
of Directors of the National One Hundred Black Men of America 
organization. In 1976, Luther created Budget and Credit Counseling 
Services, Inc. to help educate consumers with financial difficulties. 
BuCCS provided counseling and advocacy for more than 40,000 consumers.
  Luther Gatling was an economically savvy man who never resisted 
sharing his wealth of knowledge with those in need. The Credit Doctor, 
as he was known, believed in empowering struggling and financially 
illiterate consumers through the power of sound credit comprehension.
  Consumer credit, debt education, financial literacy are passions of 
Mr. Gatling. Instructing consumers on how to manage their credit wisely 
and pay their debts responsibly was important to my friend Luther.
  Luther symbolized the American Dream. He worked vigorously with the 
One Hundred Black Men to expand educational and economic opportunities 
for African Americans and other minority communities. Mr. Gatling 
worked tirelessly with the BuCCS to properly educate the public on 
fiscal responsibility. Luther extended his guidance through practically 
every medium to educate the masses. He worked his first job as a taxi 
driver later to become the CEO of the Budget and Credit Counseling 
Service.
  I would like for my colleagues in the Congress to join me in offering 
our heartfelt condolences to his wife Bonnie Gatling and their 
children, Dr. Sharon G Waldrum, Lydia Miller, Robbin Gatling, and 
Richard Patton. It is important that they know that their friends and 
all of those whose lives were touched by Luther over the years, are 
with them in spirit and the Gatling family are in our thoughts and 
prayers.
  No amount of words can ever replace this titan. Luther bore his 
illness with great dignity and pride. And through his illness, he 
continued to persist on living and fighting for causes true to his 
faith and community. Now free from pain and discomfort, we can all draw 
some comfort in knowing that he has found peace in the eternity of 
God's Kingdom. He will long be remembered for his extraordinary 
commitment, humor, liveliness, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle 
and clear purpose which won the admiration of all who were privileged 
to come to know and work with him during his distinguished career.
  Mr. Speaker, I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity 
to observe and experience Luther's example as a personal inspiration. 
Though Luther is no longer with us, we will continue to keep his memory 
alive in our hearts and minds, and continue to honor his legacy with 
our advocacy for the issues he cared about the most. We as a nation are 
all blessed to have known a Luther Gatling, ``The Credit Doctor,'' a 
titan who shaped financial counseling history with his everlasting 
spirit.

                          ____________________