[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO REPRESENTATIVE YVONNE KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I rise to note the 
untimely passing of a beloved South Alabama leader who devoted her 
life's work to advancing the cause of education among Alabama's youth.
  On December 8, 2012, the people of Mobile received the sad news that 
State Representative Yvonne Kennedy passed away at age 67 after a brief 
illness. Her family was reported to be by her side. She leaves behind a 
rich legacy of leadership in both the Alabama Legislature as well as in 
Alabama higher education.
  Born on January 8, 1945, Yvonne Kennedy received her B.S. from 
Alabama State University, an M.A. from Morgan State University in 
Baltimore, Maryland, a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, and an 
Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee.
  After completing her education she returned to Mobile to teach 
English at Bishop State Community College where she quickly assumed 
leadership roles, including assisting in the college's efforts to 
secure full accreditation.
  First elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in a special 
election in 1979, Representative Kennedy served nearly 34 years in 
Montgomery, placing her among the most senior members of the Alabama 
legislature.
  In the State Capitol, she was an active and influential member of the 
House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee, the 
Economic Development and Tourism Committee (Ranking Minority Member), 
and the Children and Senior Advocacy Committee (Ranking Minority 
Member). She was also former Chairperson of the Alabama Legislative 
Black Caucus.
  Believing that public service also involved engaging and preparing 
our youth for future careers, Representative Kennedy was a luminary in 
the Mobile education community. In 1981, she assumed the presidency of 
Bishop State Community College, serving until 2007. She was the first 
African American woman to head an Alabama state college. Under her 
leadership, Bishop State expanded its size from one to three campuses. 
She was a member of the Board of the American Association for Higher 
Education, and served as a Trustee of Miles College.
  She gave much of her time to organizations devoted to uplifting our 
youth. Most notably, she served as National President of Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority, a non-profit organization devoted to economic and 
educational development, physical and mental health, and political 
involvement. She was active in the Junior Miss Scholarship Foundation 
and served as Youth Director for the Board of Christian Education of 
the Southeast Alabama Conference of the CME Church. She was also 
Chairman of the Mobile County United Negro College Fund Campaign.
  Representative Kennedy was a long-time member of the Christian 
Methodist Episcopal Church in Mobile.
  On behalf of the people of Alabama, I offer my personal condolences 
to the family and many friends of Representative Kennedy. She was a 
good friend to many in our community where her selfless attention to 
the needs of our young people changed many lives for the better. She 
will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________