[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E84]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING JUDGE RUSSELL B. SUGARMON, JR. ON RECEIVING THE 2014 BE 
                       THE DREAM MLK LEGACY AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 16, 2014

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge Russell B. 
Sugarmon, Jr. on receiving the 2014 Be the Dream MLK Legacy Award. This 
special award is given to those individuals whose lives have ``embodied 
the spirit and legacy of service, sacrifice and hope'' that 
characterized the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a trailblazer 
for African-American stewardship in public office in Memphis and a 
leader in the Civil Rights Movement, it is fitting that this award be 
bestowed upon Judge Sugarmon in recognition of his accomplishments and 
contributions.
   Judge Sugarmon was born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 11, 1929, and 
graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis. He attended 
Morehouse College before receiving his B.A. degree from Rutgers 
University in 1950 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1953. He 
then served in the Army for two years, where he received a letter of 
commendation for his tour of duty in Japan. Upon returning to Memphis, 
in 1956, Russell began his work in private practice and later became a 
founding partner in the Memphis law firm of Ratner, Sugarmon, Lucas, 
Willis & Caldwell, the preeminent firm for civil and human rights 
cases. This was the first integrated law firm in the South.
   In 1959, Russell Sugarmon became the first African-American in 
Memphis to run for a major city office when he ran for Public Works 
Commissioner. While this race was marred by heavy racial opposition to 
his candidacy, Russell's tenacity during this campaign paved the way 
for other African-Americans in Memphis to seek public office. Never one 
to be deterred by racial injustice, Russell successfully ran for a 
position on the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee in 1964. 
Two years later, he was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, 
becoming the second African-American in Tennessee to be elected to the 
Assembly post Reconstruction. From 1976 to 1987, Russell was a Referee 
in the Memphis Juvenile Court System before being appointed to serve as 
a judge for the General Sessions court. Judge Sugarmon was subsequently 
elected and re-elected to the bench and held his seat for 20 years 
until his retirement in 2006.
   Over the course of Judge Sugarmon's life, he has been an active 
member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Working 
alongside notable Memphis pioneers and leaders in the fight for racial 
justice and equality, including the late Judge H. T. Lockard, Vasco and 
Maxine Smith, and A.W. Willis, Judge Sugarmon was instrumental in using 
the courts to desegregate public transportation, restaurants and public 
facilities. He also made headway in desegregating Memphis public 
schools. Both the NAACP and ACLU have honored Judge Sugarmon for his 
contributions to Memphis.
   Judge Sugarmon was often a behind-the-scenes strategist in nearly 
every progressive political campaign in Memphis, including helping me 
during my State Senatorial and U.S. Congressional races. I am honored 
to know Russell Sugarmon as an attorney, a judge, a civil rights 
leader, an instrument of change and a friend. There is no doubt that 
his work is worthy of this award named after Reverend Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Judge Russell B. Sugarmon, Jr. on being awarded the 2014 
Be the Dream MLK Legacy Award.

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