[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CAREER OF DR. CLIFFORD 
                               DeBAPTISTE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2014

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Clifford 
DeBaptiste of Chester County, Pennsylvania on his 90th birthday, 60 
years as owner and proprietor of the DeBaptiste Funeral Home, and for 
his incomparable record of community engagement.
  Clifford DeBaptiste first came to West Chester, Pennsylvania on a 
visit in the 1940's. After serving in the U.S. Army, he graduated from 
mortuary school and married his lovely wife, Inez Manning. They then 
opened the DeBaptiste Funeral Home in 1954 and, in 1965, moved the 
business from its original location to 25 South Worthington Street 
where it may be found today.
  In addition to running a successful business for 60 years, Dr. 
DeBaptiste has made numerous other invaluable contributions to the 
Greater West Chester community and beyond, including serving as West 
Chester's first African-American Mayor from 1994-2002. Additionally, he 
has been honored by the NAACP for his business leadership and by the 
National Purple Heart Association for his service in the U.S. Army. In 
2014, Dr. DeBaptiste was also coronated a Sovereign Grand Inspector 
General, the Thirty-Third and last degree in the Ancient and Accepted 
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Further, Dr. DeBaptiste chaired the 
Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors for 13 years, received 
its President's Medallion for Service in 1991, and an honorary Doctor 
of Public Service Degree from West Chester University in 1999.
  Mr. Speaker, in light of the 60 years of his incredible business 
record and service to the community, I ask my colleagues to join me 
today in recognizing Dr Clifford DeBaptiste, one of Chester County, 
Pennsylvania's most valued and respected citizens.

                          ____________________