[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 8, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ARLAM CARR, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 8, 2013

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to the life and legacy of Montgomery Civil Rights pioneer Arlam 
Carr Jr., a beloved Alabamian remembered for his role in the 
desegregation of Montgomery public schools.
  Arlam passed away on Thursday, September 26 at the age of 62. While I 
am deeply saddened by his passing, I am comforted in knowing that his 
legacy is one that will live on through his contributions to the 
desegregation of Montgomery's public schools and the Civil Rights 
Movement in Alabama.
  At the age of 13 Arlam was the plaintiff in the 1964 lawsuit before 
the Supreme Court against the Montgomery County Board of Education. He 
played an instrumental role in desegregating Montgomery's public 
schools. In 1965, he became one of the first African-American students 
to enroll at Sidney Lanier High School.
  Arlam has been remembered by his colleagues and friends as having ``a 
quiet courage that was reflective of his character.'' Others remember 
Arlam as ``gentle, yet tough.''
  Arlam believed in the human decency of all people claiming that once 
white students were given the chance to interact with black kids, they 
would realize all are human, all the same. When asked to recall the 
days before integration, he focused on the positive side, recalling 
those who supported him and reminded his audience of the progress that 
has since been made.
  Arlam didn't ignore the work that remained and the injustices that 
persisted however. One colleague evokes, ``When it came to discussing 
injustices in the community, you could hear and feel the steel in (his) 
voice.''
  Arlam was a lifelong Montgomery resident working for almost forty 
years at WSFA-12, where he served many roles, ultimately as Director of 
Newscasts. He helped launched Today in Alabama. He was the longest 
tenured member of the WSFA News Team.
  Arlam was active in many community and civic groups, including the 
Laubach Literacy Council and Leadership Montgomery. He was devoted to 
his family and his community. Arlam served as a deacon in his church. 
This was a position he wore with the utmost pride as a servant of God.
  Arlam's instrumental role in the Civil Rights Movement and the 
integration of Montgomery Public Schools has made an indelible mark on 
the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama. Today we honor him for 
his role in the story of Alabama. As the first black woman elected to 
congress from Alabama I am humbled to stand before the nation and share 
his story of strength, compassion and courage.
  Saying thank you to Arlam seems woefully inadequate. But, we are 
truly grateful for the life of this extraordinary public servant. On 
behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama and this 
nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy 
of Arlam Carr Jr.