[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE ON THE PASSING OF OFIELD DUKES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HANSEN CLARKE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2011

  Mr. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I honor the life and legacy of Ofield Dukes, 
a public relations pioneer, long-time friend of the Congressional Black 
Caucus (CBC), and fellow Detroiter. Mr. Dukes was firmly committed to 
fighting for justice and equality for all people.
  Mr. Dukes, an Army veteran, graduated from Detroit's Wayne State 
University with a degree in journalism. After graduation, he worked at 
The Michigan Chronicle, a weekly African American-run newspaper based 
in Detroit, until he moved to Washington D.C. in 1964 to work for the 
federal government.
  Mr. Dukes served as the deputy director of public affairs at Lyndon 
B. Johnson's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity. From 1966 to 1968, 
Mr. Dukes was a communications advisor to Vice President Hubert H. 
Humphrey.
  Mr. Dukes founded his public relations firm, Ofield Dukes & 
Associates, in 1969. The firm focuses on political and minority affairs 
with a focus on African-American and African issues. Mr. Dukes' first 
client was Detroit's Motown Records. Today, Ofield Dukes & Associates 
represents the Democratic National Committee, Howard University, The 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and the 
Congressional Black Caucus, among other notable clients.
  Mr. Dukes' relationship with the Congressional Black Caucus dates 
back to its founding in 1971 when he helped organize the first 
Congressional Black Caucus dinner. Mr. Dukes also served as an advisor 
to several CBC chairpersons. He was a founding member of the CBC 
Foundation, served on the Foundation Board for 14 years, and worked to 
improve the socioeconomic circumstance of African-Americans around the 
nation.
  Mr. Dukes also spent his time reaching out to younger generations. He 
taught at the Howard University John H. Johnson School of 
Communications for 25 years and American University's School of 
Communications for 8 years, inspiring hundreds of African-American 
students to pursue careers in public relations and politics.
  Mr. Dukes' work ethic, dedication, and resilience embody the spirit 
of Detroit. In October 2011, Mr. Dukes returned to his hometown of 
Detroit, Michigan because of his love for the city, family, and 
friends. After a struggle with bone cancer, Mr. Dukes passed away on 
December 7, 2011. I am honored to call Mr. Dukes a friend and 
colleague. He will be greatly missed.

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