[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO MR. TOM HOSEA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HICA

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have known Mr. Tom Hosea since 
the late 1960s and early 1970s. When I first met Tom, he was an 
executive with the American Hospital Association; many of us who met 
and ran together at that time were health activists. I say ran together 
because we attended so many meetings until it seemed as a natural thing 
to do. Although there were many emerging groups, Tom was actively 
involved with the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Health 
Services Executives. As a matter of fact, Tom was the highest ranking 
African-American, or Black person, that we knew who worked for the 
American Hospital Association at that time.
  Tom got the community action bug and the next thing I knew he was 
working with Dr. Levy, a Black Hebrew Israelite down East of Ashland on 
Roosevelt Road in an area called the Valley where the Westside 
organization operated with Chester Robinson, Thursty Darden, Rev. 
Archie Hargraves, Rev. John Crawford, and others in its leadership. 
Later on, Tom got involved in the Austin community and worked with Mary 
Volpe as Assistant Director of the Northeast Austin Community 
Organization and after Sam Flowers died, Tom became the Executive 
Director of HICA which he has struggled to keep alive.
  When I first knew Tom his name was Hozier; he also got involved with 
the entertainment business spinning records and putting on events; next 
thing I knew, I along with everyone else that I knew was calling him 
Hosea. Tom has passed away, but he led a very active life and had a 
very meaningful and colorful career.
  To his wife and family, we express our condolences and know that the 
value of his work will go on and on.

                          ____________________