[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 137 (Wednesday, November 12, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MR. ALBERT A. CURTIS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man 
of noble character and determination, Mr. Albert A. Curtis, Jr. of 
Tallahatchie County. He is the son of Lucille and Albert Curtis, Sr.
  As a child: Like his father, Albert A. Curtis, Sr., he was a shrewd 
manager of a few assets. But here is how he got started. This was 
during a time when racism was considered acceptable. Albert, Sr. saw no 
racism in money. And as a little boy Albert, Jr. learned that as he 
watched his father conduct business with Blacks, Whites and everyone 
else. Albert Sr. had several mantra's his son would often hear him say 
like, ``A lil negotiation don't hurt, but don't compromise your beliefs 
and dignity.'' or ``A bicycle of your own is better than someone else's 
Cadillac . . . always work hard cause nobody is going to give you 
anything'' and ``Sometimes you got to lose to win.''
  Time to grow-up: Albert, Jr.'s mother, Lucille died suddenly when he 
was eight (8) years old. But because of his strong belief in family and 
deep love for his wife, Albert, Sr. felt that was all gone when she 
died. He was broken hearted and turned to alcohol to escape the reality 
of that inevitable change. Albert, Jr. saw his father lose his will to 
live and began losing the businesses he had worked so hard to build. 
Those businesses also provided the financial support for the family. 
The family began moving around from place to place until Mattie Curtis 
took the family in, which is Albert Jr.'s grandmother. The family began 
to hire out, young Albert, Jr. to work on other farms for money and to 
work odd jobs. Unfortunately, young Albert remembers how his father 
would take the money from him to buy alcohol instead of support the 
family. Rather than defy his father in any way, he simply quit school 
to increase his work hours, believing he could continue giving his 
father the ``little'' money and the extra money he would make by 
increasing his hours, he thought some money would go to the family. 
This was a life changing decision for a young boy--who didn't truly 
understand.
  His schoolmates started seeing him around and they began to make fun 
of Albert, Jr. with words like ``He done quit school and ain't gon' 
mount to nothin' . . . plus he smells like horses and mules.'' Well, 
Albert just kept on because his father's words and work ethics were 
deep inside of him, ``Never give up and make people's ideas of you a 
lie!'' As he grew older, people began to notice him never wavering, 
never quitting, steadfast, and focused, but they just didn't see 
anything--material that is.
  Time to start a family: In 1964, Albert, Jr. met and married Alma 
``Emma'' Jean Blackburn. She was his soul-mate and helpmate--heaven 
sent. She was strong in areas he was weak. He was hard working and 
could make money while she was strong minded and book smart (as they 
called it). Emma managed the books, opened up bank accounts, paid the 
bills . . . she took care of the family business. Soon the couple had 
acquired enough money and assets that they were able to purchase their 
own home and leave Grandma Curtis' home.
  Albert, Jr. then with the support of this wife, set out to re-acquire 
all the land and holding his father had lost. He began buying land back 
from his family members (e.g., aunts and uncles and anyone who had his 
daddy's land). He was the only one who had the money to do this. 
Eventually Albert, Jr. was able to buy back all the property and land 
his father had owned but two (2) pieces of property.--Now, it's not 
known of anyone else accomplishing this, but Albert deserves being 
recognized and applauded.
  But wait, this story is not over . . . Remember, Albert, Jr. was 
never wavering, never quitting, always steadfast and focused, and 
didn't understand because they just didn't see anything--material that 
is. Well, by now he managed to acquire a wife, home of his own, money 
in the bank, all his daddy's previously owned property (but 2 pieces) 
and now property of his own. Albert continued until he was able to 
acquire 52 residential properties, commercial properties, more acres of 
land, several types of businesses of his own (e.g., plumbing, and 
financing for other small business owners) and work a full-time job for 
the City of Public Works in the community he lived.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the 
legacy of Mr. Albert A. Curtis, Jr. of Tallahatchie County, from the 
Second Congressional District of Mississippi.

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