[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 99 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE LIFE, LEGACY, AND WORK OF CLEMENTE PUGH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 19, 2015

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life, legacy, 
and work of my dear distinguished friend, Clemente Pugh who was 
affectionately known to all of as ``Clem''. As a strong believer in the 
power of knowledge, she demonstrated the importance of learning and 
expanding educational opportunities to women and African Americans 
throughout our great Nation. On June 20th, at Harlem's historic, The 
Riverside Church, family and community gathers to memorialize Clem's 
life and contributions to opening our minds to the importance of 
culture, honesty, and knowledge.
  On April 11, 1925, Clemente was born to Alberta and Otho High in 
Raleigh, North Carolina. She attended Shaw University where she earned 
a Bachelor of Arts degree. She began her career as a psychiatric social 
worker, moving on to becoming a public school teacher and eventually, a 
professor at Hunter and Lehman Colleges of the City University of New 
York. After 20 years of service at Lehman College, she was awarded the 
title of Professor Emeritus Education. She went on to earn a Master of 
Social Work degree in 1949 from New York's Columbia University and a 
Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst 
in 1982 where she was awarded the prestigious title of Professor 
Emeritus of Education for her teachings.
  Clem vividly strived for honesty and understanding. She made it her 
duty to present others with the awareness she obtained. Her tireless 
effort to engage, enjoy, and educate people touched the hearts of every 
person she met. A woman ahead of her time, Clemente Pugh tackled the 
many realms of ``isms'' including, racism, sexism and classism. Her 
life was devoted to acknowledging and improving how these infected 
opinions affect African American people. With her remarkable 
resilience, I am proud to have called Clemente and her husband, Douglas 
Pugh, my dear and very special friends. I know that her legacy will 
live on for many years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me 
as we pay tribute to such a treasure to our community. I pledge to 
continue to carry out her tradition of provoking thought and feeling 
for all who have lost their way, or simply need to be reminded of who 
we are, what we come from, and how we can overcome any obstacle 
presented before us.