[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF VICTORY BELL AND CHUCK JEFFERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Victory Bell 
and Chuck Jefferson, who were recently honored by the Booker Washington 
Center in Rockford, Illinois.
  Vic Bell and Chuck Jefferson have both been incredible leaders in the 
Rockford community for decades. The first African-American elected to 
the Rockford City Council, Alderman Bell served for 38 years before 
retiring in 2009. During his years representing Rockford's most diverse 
ward, Bell helped increase diversity throughout city government and 
fought to bring economic development projects to all of Rockford. He 
was an inspiration and a mentor to many who have since entered public 
service or joined the City Council and, in 1999, he was named one of 
the Rockford Register Star's ``100 people of the Century.''
  Chuck Jefferson has been serving as State Representative for 
Illinois' 67th District since 2001 and is currently the Assistant 
Majority Leader in the State Assembly. After completing six years of 
service in the Army, Representative Jefferson moved to Rockford with 
his wife and began his career in public service. He has been involved 
in numerous community organizations over the years, including the New 
Zion Day Care Center, United Way and the Rockford Sportsmen Golf 
Association, which organizes after-school programs for underprivileged 
youth.
  The Booker Washington Community Center in Rockford is Illinois' 
oldest African-American community center. It hosts an impressive array 
of programs for people of all ages dedicated to art, music, violence 
prevention, education and much more.
  Mr. Speaker, I'd like to again congratulate Vic Bell and Chuck 
Jefferson and thank the Booker Washington Center for recognizing their 
many years of dedicated service to the people of Rockford.

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