[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E89-E90]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING DR. JAMES L. NETTERS, SR. 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 Dr. James L. 
Netters, Sr. 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 pastor, a 
public official and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement,

[[Page E90]]

it is fitting that this award be bestowed upon James Netters in 
recognition of his accomplishments and contributions.
   James Netters was born in Aliceville, Alabama in 1927 and moved with 
his family to Memphis, Tennessee in 1942. He graduated from Booker T. 
Washington High School in 1946, and nine years later was ordained by 
Reverend L.O. Taylor at Olivet Baptist Church. In 1956, Mr. Netters was 
installed as pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood in Memphis. 
Under his leadership, Mt. Vernon has been active in the community, 
operating Mount Vernon Christian Academy, which provides education for 
infants, and Westwood Manor Elderly Cottages, which offers affordable 
housing for independent-living seniors. In 1963, James received his 
B.A. degree from Lemoyne-Owen College and later earned his Master of 
Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary in 1987 and his Doctor of 
Ministry in 1994.
   In 1963, as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum throughout the 
country, Dr. Netters travelled to Washington, D.C. to participate in 
the March on Washington, standing on stage while Dr. King delivered his 
``I Have a Dream'' speech. Invigorated and inspired by this experience, 
Dr. Netters returned to Memphis and was successful at working to 
integrate public buses. Dr. Netters later joined Reverend J.O. 
Patterson and Fred Davis to become the first African-Americans elected 
to the newly formed Memphis City Council. As a Councilman, James 
Netters worked to bring Dr. King and other national civil rights 
figures to Memphis to support the sanitation workers during the strike 
of 1968. He was also influential in working out an agreement to end the 
strike. In 1971, he stepped down from the City Council to serve as the 
Administrative Assistant to Mayor Wyeth Chandler from 1972 to 1975. Dr. 
Netters was the first African-American to serve in this position in 
Memphis.
   Dr. Netters has received numerous awards and recognitions, and has 
served in various leadership positions including Chairman of the Board 
of Memphis Light, Gas and Water as well as its Interim President and 
CEO. He continues to pastor at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and has grown 
its membership from 300 to over 4,000. Today, Reverend Netters is the 
most senior pastor in Memphis. 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 
Dr. James L. Netters, Sr. on being awarded the 2014 Be the Dream MLK 
Legacy Award.

                          ____________________