[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1187-E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING WARREN K. ASHE, PH.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the House of Representatives 
to join me in remembering and honoring Warren K. Ashe, Ph.D., who 
passed away at the age of 85 this week after a lifetime of 
demonstrating what an African American can achieve, despite being 
denied the opportunities that were routinely available to other 
Americans. For purposes of disclosure, Dr. Ashe was my cousin and I am 
proud of the relationship.
  Although born in Halifax, North Carolina, Dr. Ashe was educated in 
the District of Columbia public schools, including the famed Dunbar 
High School, in those days of segregation, the college preparatory high 
school in the nation's capital for Black students. Dr. Ashe served in 
the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and was honorably 
discharged as a sergeant.
  Dr. Ashe's achievements were outstanding by any measure. He received 
his Bachelor of Sciences degree, as well as his M.A. and Ph.D. in 
microbiology from Howard University, and his M.A. in Religious Studies.
  He rose from grade GS-1 medical biology technician at the National 
Institute of Health to become the first African American to be a senior 
research scientist at the National Institute for Dental Research, a 
research microbiologist in the Laboratory of Oral Microbiology, and a 
health scientist administrator in the Soft Tissue Stomatology Program. 
While at NIH, Dr. Ashe also served as equal opportunity officer. His 
selfless dedication to equality for others led him to take considerable 
risks to ensure that he did not become a token African American. As a 
result of Dr. Ashe's work in equal opportunity, the employment of 
Blacks at NIH and their promotion to scientific and administrative 
leadership increased significantly.
  In 1971, Dr. Ashe was appointed the first dean for research at Howard 
University. His accomplishments at Howard were remarkable: leadership 
in the establishment of the first clinical research center in the world 
with NIH funding at Howard University and establishment of the National 
Human Genome Center at Howard that helped in the sequencing of human 
genomes to tackle diseases that disproportionately affect the African 
diaspora. Dr. Ashe's professional accomplishments were matched by his 
dedication in preparing high school students for the health sciences, 
his activities as a member of the most distinguished professional 
organizations in his field, and his devotion, in particular, to his 
church, Turner Memorial AME, where he was a steward until his passing.

[[Page E1188]]

  Mr. Speaker, as an African American born in 1929, when segregation 
nationwide barred the doors to success, Dr. Ashe could hardly have 
dreamed of achieving these accomplishments. Dr. Ashe did more than 
dream--he worked until he moved 20th century discrimination out of his 
way.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in honoring the life and work of Warren K. Ashe, Ph.D. and in 
sending condolences to his wife, Grace and to Dr. Ashe's entire family.

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