[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 154 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO MRS. DOROTHY LEAVELL AS SHE CELEBRATES HER 50TH YEAR 
   ANNIVERSARY WITH THE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AND GARY, INDIANA CRUSADER 
                               NEWSPAPERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 14, 2011

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Dorothy Leavell migrated to 
Chicago, Illinois from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and began her newspaper 
career as an office clerk with the Crusader Newspapers in 1961. She 
took over as publisher in 1968 after the death of her first husband, 
Balm Leavell, who was one of the two founders of the Crusader.
  In the ensuing years Mrs. Leavell distinguished herself as a militant 
minded muckraking journalist, community activist and business person. 
She joined the National Newspaper Publishers Association and for more 
than 40 years she has been a dedicated and active member and leader of 
the organization. She has been its Chairperson, Chairwoman of various 
committee and task forces. As well, she also led a controversial 20 
member group to Nigeria to investigate its political crisis.
  As a media advocate she also was a staunch and critical supporter for 
the confirmation of Alexis Herman to become the U.S. Secretary of 
Labor. As publisher of the Crusader, Ms. Leavell has been a strong 
supporter of affirmative action, parity in advertising and civil rights 
pursuits. Dorothy Leavell has been an outstanding journalist and a 
brave publisher and a great humanitarian; therefore, I am pleased to 
commend her and wish for her fifty more years of productive service.
  In addition to her journalist work, Ms. Leavell is the wife of Mr. 
John Smith, her second husband, the mother of two children, three 
grandchildren and has also raised a niece and a nephew. She is actively 
involved in her church, Holy Name of Mary in the Morgan Park Community 
of Chicago.
  Under Ms. Leavell's tutelage the Crusader has become the City of 
Chicago's largest locally Black owned paid circulation newspaper. May 
it long live and may the legacy of Ms. Dorothy Leavell last forever.

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