[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 44 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E345-E346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF RUTH REVELS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 21, 2016

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Ruth Revels who passed away on March 14, 2016, at the age of 79. 
Throughout her life, Mrs. Revels was an unwavering advocate for the 
Lumbee Tribe and American Indians in the state of North Carolina, and 
she will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. 
I send my prayers and sincerest condolences to Mrs. Revels' family and 
the entire Lumbee Tribe during this difficult time.
  Mrs. Revels was born in Robeson County, North Carolina during the 
1940's, a period that

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was marked by segregation and the unequal treatment of minority 
communities, including American Indians. Her personal experiences 
during her childhood, along with her desire to help young people reach 
their full potential, inspired Mrs. Revels to become a teacher at her 
former high school, Pembroke High School, which at the time was the 
only school in the area where Indian students could attend. She later 
went on to teach at Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, North Carolina 
for 14 additional years.
  Mrs. Revels was a recognized leader in the state of North Carolina 
for her lifelong efforts on issues important to the Lumbee Tribe and 
American Indians. In addition to becoming the Executive Director of the 
Guilford Native American Association, where she served for over 20 
years, Mrs. Revels was a member of the North Carolina Commission of 
Indian Affairs since 2003. In a testament to her leadership on this 
issue, Governor Pat McCrory appointed Mrs. Revels as the Chairwoman of 
the Commission in 2013. Mrs. Revels was a pillar of the American Indian 
community in North Carolina, and her work will long be remembered for 
having a profound impact on many generations.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me today in remembering the life of Ruth 
Revels and celebrating her legacy that undoubtedly offers American 
Indians in North Carolina a brighter and more prosperous future.

                          ____________________