[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2014

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of Women's History Month and H.R. 863, the National Women's 
History Commission Act. I would like to recognize a few of the many 
important women from Texas.
  While there have been many women leaders in Dallas, one that stands 
out in my mind is former mayor Annette Strauss, the second female mayor 
and also the second Jewish mayor. Before her election to the Dallas 
City Council, Strauss worked tirelessly as a fundraiser for many 
organizations, poignantly for the arts in Dallas. During her tenure as 
Mayor-Pro Tern and as mayor, Strauss successfully provided a refuge for 
the many Texas families that fell into homelessness during the economic 
crisis. Today, the Annette G. Strauss Family Gateway remains a facility 
that provides empowerment for homeless people and families to break the 
cycle of homelessness and poverty. Strauss served as Ambassador-at-
large for the city of Dallas until her death from cancer in 1998.
  In the world of education, Yvonne Ewell is a Texas legend. Ewell 
began her teaching career at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School in 
Dallas. Ewell was the first African American woman appointed as the 
district-wide elementary school consultant and subsequently was named 
associate superintendant of the Dallas Independent School District 
(DISD). During her time as the court-appointed school desegregation 
monitor for DISD, Ewell began planning for a magnet school with her 
fellow committee members. From her vision, the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview 
Magnet Center was born and is extremely successful in educating 
students in its six semi-independent subject-based high schools. Ewell 
maintained a strong, controversial stance on education in Dallas 
schools until her death in 1998 of pancreatic cancer.
  When recognizing Dallas leaders, it is impossible to not highlight 
Margaret McDermott. At the age of 102, McDermott will lend her name to 
the second signature bridge which connects downtown Dallas to west 
Dallas over the Trinity River. McDermott and her late husband Eugene 
McDermott have been philanthropists and friends to civic, cultural, and 
educational organizations nationwide. Some recipients of the 
McDermotts' generosity include the University of Texas at Dallas, the 
Dallas Museum of Art, the Hockaday School, the AT&T Performing Arts 
Center, the Meyerson Symphony Center, and even the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology. While McDermott takes little credit for her 
philanthropic activities, she continues to do more civic good in her 
hometown of Dallas.
  While there are many women that we should recognize for their 
historic leadership in Dallas, we must recognize the young leaders in 
our community as well. Ariel Atkins, a senior basketball player at 
Duncanville High School, currently has her eye on a third state 
championship. The fourth-ranked prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100 
for the class of 2014, Atkins has already made the decision to play 
basketball at the University of Texas next year. Despite her hard work 
and talent on the court, Atkins is committed to helping others, which 
she says she feels is her sole purpose in life. Young women like Atkins 
need encouragement from parents, coaches, and teachers so that they can 
reach their goals and beyond.
  The women I have recognized are true visionaries. I urge my 
colleagues to support Women's History Month so that we can empower 
women at every age to be leaders in their fields and in their 
communities.