[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 141 (Thursday, October 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING 2013 HONOREES OF THE TOLEDO AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGACY 
                                PROJECT

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2013

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate fifteen 
individuals who were recently recognized for outstanding achievement by 
the Toledo African American Legacy Project. The Toledo African American 
Legacy Project is dedicated to bringing together people to document and 
preserve the history of Northwest Ohio's African American communities 
and to celebrate their impact and influence upon Toledo and the greater 
world community. The organization honored six people, as well as two 
posthumously and eight up-and-coming residents during its ninth annual 
celebration.
  The six people receiving honors this year were: Myra Waters, who 
graduated from Toledo's Libbey High School and is now the Director of 
the Counseling Center and Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of 
Baltimore. Samuel L. Price, a Scott High School graduate, is a 
respected businessman and restaurateur. Joseph Sommerville is a 
Professor Emeritus in the University of Toledo's College of Education. 
Lola Glover is a champion for our region's marginalized residents and 
founder of the Coalition for Quality Education. Dr. Crystal Ellis, a 
Springfield High School graduate, is an educator who became the first 
African-American superintendent of the Toledo Public Schools. Wilma 
Brown, also a graduate of Toledo's Scott High School and the first 
African-American to become president of the Toledo City Council, served 
the citizens of Toledo in elected office.
  The Toledo African American Legacy Project also posthumously 
recognized Daniel Mack, who owned and operated the highly regarded 
Candlelight Cafe and Robert Powell who owned Toledo's iconic Powell's 
Beauty and Barbershop.
  In addition to honoring current leaders from northwest Ohio's African 
American community, the Toledo African American Legacy Project also 
highlights young, emerging African American leaders from the region. 
This year, eight people were recognized for their efforts: Kenyetta 
Jones an autoworker from Toledo who last year introduced President 
Obama in Ohio and later addressed the Democratic National Convention; 
Alicia Smith, an educational coordinator at Toledo's Padua Center; Hope 
Bland, a field instructor at the University of Toledo and Wayne State 
University School of Social Work; Merdia Allen, Associate Director of 
the Office of EXCELlence and Multicultural Student Success programs and 
part-time instructor at the University of Toledo; Joshua Peterson, an 
associate at Eastman & Smith Attorneys at Law; William Pierce, Interim 
Director of Undergraduate Admission at the University of Toledo; Rodney 
Eason, Jr., Director of Human Resources at The Andersons; and Keith 
Jordan, President of the Toledo Board of Community Relations.
  I join our community in congratulating this year's African American 
Legacy Project honorees. Each person's contributions have made us 
stronger and bettered the lives of many in our region. We salute the 
efforts of each honoree.

                          ____________________