[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E641-E642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MARQUIS ALEXANDER, FUTURE COMMANDER OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY'S CORPS OF 
                                 CADETS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2012

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a 
milestone reached by Marquis Alexander. He is the first African-
American to become commander of Texas A&M's Corps of Cadets. Currently 
Marquis is a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Reserves and a rising senior 
majoring in International Studies.


                  History of African-Americans at TAMU

  The history of African-Americans at Texas A&M University dates back 
to the founding of the institution. African-Americans in the Texas 
Legislature advocated for and supported the passage of the Morrill 
Land-Grant Act in 1866, which established the A&M College of Texas 
between 1876 and 1963. African-Americans worked at A&M as laborers, 
maids, custodians and various other support staff; however they were 
prohibited from attending as students and faculty.
  The history of African-Americans at A&M has been shaped by decades of 
racial segregation, quiet desegregation, and attempts to redress 
historical wrongs. It has been filled with lifelong struggles and 
determination to fulfill a dream which was accomplished when A&M opened 
the doors in 1963 to African Americans. The past 37 years have been a 
continuing struggle by African-Americans and A&M to ensure that the 
dream is kept alive.
  The first African-Americans joined the corps in 1964. The first 
female cadets came a decade later. In A&M's centennial year, Fred 
McClure won election as body president, making him the first to be 
equal to that of Corps Commander and Aggie Yell Leader.


                              Civil Rights

  Civil rights is a subject that cannot be ignored or taken lightly, 
even in this day of progressive movement toward tolerance. We must not 
lose sight of the continued need for civil rights. We must not relax 
our initiatives which build greater racial, ethnic, and religious 
tolerance. While I believe that there is still work to be done on the 
issue of civil rights and hurdles to overcome, we cannot ignore the 
progress that has been made as the result of decades of hard work, 
diligence, the sweat and tears of many of our country's civil rights 
trailblazers.
  This is evidenced by an increase in the numbers of minorities 
attaining leadership positions in the private and public sectors for 
example: Ken Chenault, an African American who currently serves as the 
CEO of American Express; Ursula Burns, who became the first African 
American woman to serve as Chairman and CEO of Xerox, a Fortune 500 
Company; and Antonio Perez, the first Latino American to serve as CEO 
of Eastman Kodak Corporation to name a few.


                    Background on Marquis Alexander

  He is the oldest of 10 children and the first in his family to go to 
college. He is said to be an admirable and mature young man. Mr. 
Alexander is currently a Corporal in the Marine Reserves. He has become 
the first person with military experience to head the Corps. Texas A&M 
University has the proud distinction of having the most graduates to 
enlist in our nation's armed forces when compared to other non-military 
academies.
  Marquis Alexander grew up in my home city of Houston. And our city is 
proud of his achievements. Marquis has always wanted to attend Texas 
A&M. He was so ``gung-ho'' military that he participated in Texas A&M's 
Junior Cadet Accessions Program while still in high school. A week 
after enlisting in the Marine Corps, he received his letter of 
acceptance to Texas A&M University.
  Yet, true to his word and commitment, Alexander attended boot camp at 
the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and spent a year and a half 
on active duty. He subsequently reverted from active duty status and is 
serving the remainder of his enlistment commitment in the Marine Corps 
Reserves. He reapplied for admission to Texas A&M in 2009 and was 
promptly accepted.

[[Page E642]]

  He was selected following a rigorous review process in which a host 
of cadets are considered when leadership selections are made each year. 
Soon he will assume duties as Cadet Colonel of the Corps, the 2,100 
member organization's top leadership position, also known as Corps 
Commander, and one of the three top positions on campus, along with 
that of student body President and Yell Leader.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Alexander for aiming high and continuing 
to strive above and beyond his primary goals of joining the military. 
He is a mentor and guiding light to those who know him. I congratulate 
Marquis on his achievement. He has indeed risen to the top and I hope 
he keeps on rising. In my office, I have an intern named Ashley Hawkes 
whose family has also dedicated their lives to the military. Marquis 
Alexander stands as a role to young people like Ashley. Ashley was 
honored to work on this statement, and was inspired by his story. That 
is why I stand here today to spread the word about his tremendous 
achievement to not only honor Marquis Alexander but to inspire young 
people like Ashley to realize that they must continue to advance.

                          ____________________