[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 35 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF HOWARD P. DREW

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2016

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
one of Springfield's most famous residents, Olympic athlete and scholar 
Howard P. Drew.
  Howard was born on June 28, 1890 in Lexington, Virginia but was 
raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. As a high school student at 
Springfield High School, Howard tied the world record for the 100 meter 
dash to qualify for the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. Later, as a 
student at the University of Southern California, he broke the record 
for the 100 meter and 200 meter dash. Despite having many personal 
problems, he persevered and was able to travel to participate in an 
array of competitions. Howard won numerous medals throughout the 
Northeast, especially in Massachusetts. His triumphs in track and field 
were covered by every major newspaper including the Boston Globe and 
the New York Times.
  During his time at University of Southern California, Howard was the 
first African-American man to write for USC's newspaper, titled the 
Daily Southern Californian, as well as being the first African-American 
man inducted into the Skull and Dagger Society, an exclusive academic 
club at USC. Before finishing his education, Howard enlisted and became 
a Sergeant in the Supply Company, 809th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, and 
the Eighty-Eighth Division of the United States Army during World War 
I, and during that time, he ran and coached the Army track teams in 
Neil, France. Once leaving the Army and finishing law school, he became 
a judge in Hartford, Connecticut and was elected to Justice of the 
Peace several times during the 1940s. Each of these positions was the 
first to be held by an African American in the State of Connecticut.
  Mr. Speaker, as Springfield celebrates his legacy, let us remember 
all of Howard P. Drew's outstanding achievements, as we recall his 
legacy as a role model for today's high school athletes and students 
all over the country.

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