[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND WORK OF MR. WILLIE R. BRADSHAW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 2015

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and remember Mr. 
Willie R. Bradshaw, a friend and lifelong resident of his native 
Durham, North Carolina who was called to be with God on March 23, 2015 
at the age of 86.
  Willie R. Bradshaw was born on September 17, 1928 in Durham, North 
Carolina and was educated in the Durham Public Schools. He became an 
outstanding athlete at Hillside High School where he played on the 1943 
football team that was undefeated that season. He graduated in 1945 and 
went on to attend North Carolina College, now North Carolina Central 
University. After, Mr. Bradshaw played professional baseball as a 
pitcher for several Negro League teams.
  Mr. Bradshaw was a respected coach, having coached at I.E. Johnson in 
Laurinburg, Lincoln High in Chapel Hill, and Dudley High in Greensboro 
before returning to Hillside to coach in 1963. He served as coach and 
athletic director at Hillside High for 15 years, and then as athletic 
director for the former-Durham City Schools system, becoming the first 
African American athletic director in both the City and County of 
Durham.
  Mr. Bradshaw devoted a lifetime of service to his city and his alma 
mater. After a successful athletic career, he joined the NCCU Athletic 
Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1995, Mr. Bradshaw was inducted into the North 
Carolina High School Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of 
Fame in 2010.
  A former president of both the North Carolina High School Athletic 
Directors Association and the North Carolina Coaches Association, Mr. 
Bradshaw's career record as a head football coach was 96-43-6 and 215-
119 over his 14 seasons as a basketball coach. He was honored with a 
NCHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 1992 and was involved at the 
national level with the National Interscholastic Athletic 
Administrators' Association.
  Mr. Bradshaw grew up in the Walltown Community and was a dedicated 
member of First Calvary Baptist Church. He cared deeply about improving 
the lives of young people and was committed to advocating for children 
and making sure they had opportunities to reach their full potential. 
As a champion for equality during the Jim Crow era, he is remembered as 
a bridge builder who brought people together for common causes.
  Known for his strong leadership, and as a man of few words, Mr. 
Bradshaw made a difference in so many lives. The world was made a 
better place because of the life and work of Mr. Bradshaw.
  I ask my colleagues join me in expressing our deepest condolences to 
``Coach'' Bradshaw's wife, Shirley M. Bradshaw; daughter, Natalyn 
Bradshaw-Haile Selassie; and granddaughter, Fana Ruth Haile Selassie, 
and his extended family and friends who mourn their loss but celebrate 
his incredible life.

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