[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 54 (Monday, April 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E391-E392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ON THE PASSING OF LAWRENCE D. KOONCE, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAREN BASS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 11, 2016

  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to note the passing of a long-
time community advocate, Lawrence D. Koonce, Sr.

[[Page E392]]

  Mr. Koonce was born in Donaldville, Georgia and grew up in Newark, 
New Jersey. He moved to Los Angeles in early adulthood to work with Van 
Vorse Mattress Company and later became a successful entrepreneur.
  He was devoted to his family and to his community. He married the 
late Barbara Talley and they had three sons. He also had a daughter. He 
raised his family in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South Los 
Angeles, where he quickly took on positions of leadership. He served as 
President of the Vermont Knolls--81st Street Block Club many times over 
the course of nearly five decades.
  He worked to build partnerships that would contribute to improving 
the area, including with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the 
city council office, and later with the Community Coalition for 
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (CoCo).
  I came to know him as he took active roles in CoCo programs such as 
the Greater Resources through Organizing and Work (GROW) Project. Mr. 
Koonce helped win changes in grocery store health and safety practices, 
such as selling expired meat and wilted produce in South L.A. stores. 
He also fought to beautify the area and calm traffic, making it nicer 
and safer to walk in the neighborhood.
  As a result of his efforts he was selected to take part in the 
Neighborhood Leadership Program of the prestigious Coro Southern 
California Leadership Center, further enhancing his skills. He was also 
chosen to sit on the LAPD Community Police Advisory Board and was 
recognized repeatedly by LAPD for his work to improve safety and solve 
problems.
  Never afraid to put in hard work, Mr. Koonce would not settle for 
less than he thought his community deserved. He will be deeply missed, 
and my heart is with his family and friends as they gather to honor his 
memory.

                          ____________________