[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 96 (Thursday, June 30, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4288-S4289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING HENRY G. MARSH

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to Henry 
G. Marsh, a tireless and dedicated community leader in Saginaw, MI, who 
passed away on May 11, 2011. Mr. Marsh was an important figure in the 
civil rights community in Saginaw, as well as in politics, for many 
years. He accomplished much throughout his professional life and has 
forged an impressive legacy that will surely inspire many for years to 
come.
  Henry G. Marsh was born on October 11, 1921, to Thomas and Saidye 
Marsh. Upon graduating from Greenwood High School, Mr. Marsh joined the 
Army. After his military service, Mr. Marsh earned a degree from 
Knoxville College in Knoxville, TN, and later a law degree from Wayne 
State University.
  In 1954, Mr. Marsh moved to Saginaw and quickly became actively 
involved in community affairs in the city. He would soon accept a 
position as legal counsel for the NAACP, and would eventually become 
chairman of the Human Relations Commission. Henry Marsh was committed 
to serving the needs of the Saginaw community and served in various 
positions and as chairman of many committees and boards throughout his 
adult life in Saginaw, MI.

[[Page S4289]]

  In 1961, Mr. Marsh became the first African American to be elected to 
the Saginaw City Council, and in 1967, became Saginaw's first Black 
mayor. Shortly after becoming mayor, he formed a 220-member Committee 
on Civil Rights, made up of homemakers, factory workers, ministers, 
business owners and members of civil rights organizations, that sought 
to bring the city together to solve the many issues the city faced at 
the time. Reflecting on his stint as mayor, he was quoted in the 
Saginaw News in a 2000 interview as saying that the commission was 
``the most important thing I ever did. We discussed the legitimate 
concerns of this city.''
  Henry Marsh was a devoted husband and family man. He was married to 
his wife Ruth for 63 years, and they were blessed with three children, 
Michael, Walter and Teresa.
  This is, indeed, a great loss to the many people who knew Henry Marsh 
and to the many more that have benefited from his life's work. I know 
my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the life and work of Henry 
G. Marsh. I am sure his family takes comfort in knowing that his 
accomplishments will be honored and remembered for years to 
come.

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