[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 22 (Monday, February 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E126-E127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PATRICIA SPENCER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 8, 2016

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to 
honor the life of an extraordinary leader and passionate advocate for 
freedom and justice, Ms. Patricia Spencer.
  Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1930s, Patricia Spencer 
followed in her mother and grandmother's footsteps, becoming a member 
of the NAACP at the age of seven, a group of which she was still a 
member 72 years later. At the age of nineteen, while serving as 
secretary of the local NAACP branch, Ms. Spencer received the news that 
her mentor on the NAACP Youth Council, Rosa Parks, was arrested while 
riding the Montgomery bus. Ms. Spencer immediately started churning out 
fliers urging others to boycott the bus. During this time Ms. Spencer 
also babysat Yolanda King, the first eldest child of Martin Luther 
King, Jr.
  Ms. Spencer attended Alabama State University and then moved to 
Orlando, FL to take a position as an operator with Southern Bell, the 
first African American to hold this position. From there she moved to 
Detroit and served 13 years on the local school board. In recognition 
of her service to the Detroit area, the Martin Luther King, Jr. High 
School Auditorium and the swimming facility at Charles Kettering High 
School bear her name. In the mid 1990s she moved to Tampa, FL. Once 
settled in she immediately started to volunteer with the Hillsborough 
NAACP branch, where she used her vast knowledge of the organization's 
rules to mentor members and secure funding for the branch. She served 
as Membership Chair and Area Director for the NAACP's state conference 
as well as Secretary of the Hillsborough County branch. She will 
forever be remembered for her constant efforts to boost NAACP 
membership.
  As a notable NAACPer, Ms. Spencer also co-chaired the Afro-Academic, 
Cultural, Technologic and Scientific Olympics. This program recruits 
high school students to compete in science and visual arts 
competitions. Though she gave countless hours to the organization as a 
volunteer, she still had time to serve others. She was affiliated with 
other local organizations as well. At WUSF Radio Reading Service, she 
was a reader for the visually impaired listeners tuned in to the 
station. She was a Board Member of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute 
(OLLI-USF), a non-degree-seeking program at the University of South 
Florida and she also served on the Board of the Early Learning 
Coalition. The American Red Cross was one of her favorite charities and 
she was the Vice President of Sisters Network, Inc., Tampa Chapter. She 
also was Chair of the Hillsborough County Public Schools--School Choice 
Committee.
  In 2007, Governor Charlie Crist appointed her as a member of the 
Hillsborough County Civil Service Board.
  Ms. Spencer will be forever remembered as a leader in the Tampa Bay 
community for her unequivocal support of justice and fairness. On 
December 14th, 2015, she passed away two days following her 79th 
birthday. Mr. Speaker, I join the Tampa Bay community in honoring Ms. 
Patricia Spencer for her lifelong commitment to service.

[[Page E127]]

  

                          ____________________