[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING REVEREND SAMUEL BILLY KYLES 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 Reverend Samuel 
Billy Kyles 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 revered 
pastor and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, it is fitting that 
this award be bestowed upon Rev. Kyles in recognition of his 
accomplishments and contributions.
   Samuel Kyles was born in Shelby, Mississippi in 1934. At age 17, he 
moved to Memphis, Tennessee and in 1959, at age 25, he was installed as 
the first pastor of Monumental Baptist Church and to date, has served 
as its only pastor. Under his nearly 55 year leadership, Monumental has 
served the Memphis community well. The church strives to uplift young 
people and operates Monumental Pride Homes, which offers senior 
citizens affordable living. Rev. Kyles maintains his connection with 
the broader religious community through his membership with the World 
Baptist Alliance and his participation in the Progressive National 
Baptist Convention (PNBC). He is also a former instructor at the 
National Training Congress of the PNBC and previously served on the 
Board of Directors of the Morehouse School of Religion.
   Rev. Kyles was an important leader during the Civil Rights Movement, 
helping to desegregate public institutions and businesses. As a member 
of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in 
1961, he enrolled his five-year old daughter in the all white public 
school system, thereby helping Memphis to become the first city in the 
South to integrate elementary schools. Rev. Kyles, along with other 
prominent Memphis fighters for racial justice and equality, worked to 
integrate the city buses and end segregation in restaurants, movie 
theaters, department stores and workplaces. Rev. Kyles once referred to 
his work as, ``an extension of my ministry.''
   In the early 1970s, Rev. Kyles became a founding national board 
member of People United to Serve Humanity (PUSH). He was also the 
executive director of Rainbow/PUSH-Memphis and the executive producer 
of Rainbow/PUSH WLOK Radio for over 30 years. During the Clinton 
Administration, he served on the Advisory Committee on Religious 
Freedom Abroad, investigating religious persecution throughout the 
world, and as a panelist at the White House Conference on Hate Crimes. 
In 1994, he traveled to South Africa as an election monitor in its 
first multi-racial election, which saw Nelson Mandela elected as South 
Africa's first black President.
   Reverend Kyles shares a unique connection with Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. as pastors, civil rights leaders and friends. He stood beside 
Dr. King while he delivered his famous ``Mountaintop'' speech at Mason 
Temple Church of God In Christ in Memphis. There is no doubt that Rev. 
Kyles' 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 Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles on being awarded the 2014 Be 
the Dream MLK Legacy Award.

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