[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING OZELL SUTTON

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the life 
and legacy of civil rights activist Ozell Sutton. A native of Gould, 
AR, Sutton paved the way for desegregation in the Natural State and 
throughout the South alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other 
civil rights leaders.
  After graduating from Dubar High School in Little Rock, Sutton 
studied at Philander Smith College where he earned a degree in 
political science.
  He broke barriers as the Arkansas Democrat's first Black journalist. 
In 2012, he shared the story of his hiring, saying that he didn't know 
anything about journalism but was hired because the Democrat ``wanted 
to reach the black community.''
  He worked at the newspaper for 7 years where he made a difference in 
how the newspaper covered the African-American community. He challenged 
the status quo, inspiring change in the news stories to refer to Black 
men and women as ``Mr.'' and ``Mrs.,'' just as it did with the White 
population.
  Sutton was an activist serving as a decoy at Central High School in 
1957 when the Little Rock Nine integrated the school. He recalled being 
beaten after the mob figured out he was a decoy.
  He led integration efforts in Arkansas while serving as assistant 
director of the Arkansas Council on Human Relations from 1961 to 1966 
and joined civil rights leaders to pave the way for equality across the 
country. He joined the historic march on Washington and marched for 
voting rights in Selma.
  Following the death of Dr. King, he served Governor Winthrop 
Rockefeller as the director of the Governor's Council on Human 
Resources from 1968-1970 and continued his public service with the U.S. 
Department of Justice Community Relations Services. In 1972 he was 
appointed the director in the southeast region. He held that position 
until his retirement in 2003.
  As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Sutton served as regional vice 
president of the southwest region and southern region before going on 
to serve as the 26th general president.
  In 2012, Sutton was presented a Congressional Gold Medal as one of 
the first African Americans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.
  Ozell Sutton dedicated his life to bettering the lives of future 
generations. He was a true American hero whose leadership helped fight 
desegregation and lay the foundation for equality. My thoughts and 
prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.

                          ____________________