[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING PAULINE A. ELLISON, THE 6TH NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE LINKS, 
                                  INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2018

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pauline A. 
Ellison, the sixth National President of the Links, Inc. The Links, 
Inc. is an international not-for-profit and one of our nation's oldest 
and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, 
sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African 
Americans and other persons of African ancestry. This week, the Links, 
Inc. gather for their 41st National Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana 
where they will honor their current and past national presidents.
  Pauline A. Ellison was born in Iron Gate, Virginia and graduated from 
Watson High School in Covington, Virginia. She was valedictorian of her 
class and matriculated to Howard University on a full scholarship. As a 
student at Howard University, she majored in Chemistry and graduated 
with honors. After college, she became the first African American woman 
to be named as an employee relation's officer at the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During her tenure at HUD, she 
served as the Vice President of the Hubert Humphrey Committee on Back-
To-School programs and assisted with President Lyndon B. Johnson's 
Youth Programs where she helped train and educate thousands of young 
people.
  Through her strong interest in the academic development of young 
people, she founded the Northern Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill and 
served on the boards of Burgundy Farm Country Day School and the United 
Way. Mrs. Ellison attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign 
Service and was nominated to attend the Federal Executive Institute in 
Charlottesville, Virginia. Following her time at Georgetown, Mrs. 
Ellison received her Master's in Public Administration from American 
University. She spent two years in Germany and served as the vice 
president of the Hahn Officers Wives' Club, where she developed and 
implemented programs for American-German orphans and American Girl 
Scouts.
  Pauline A. Ellison was one of several members who charted the 
Arlington Chapter of The Links, Inc., on November 19, 1966. She served 
as vice president and president of the Arlington Chapter and was later 
appointed as the National Director of Services to Youth. In that role, 
she compiled and distributed a single publication listing the 
activities of every chapter in each program facet. During The Links, 
Inc. National Assembly in 1974, Pauline A. Ellison was elected to serve 
as the 6th National President.
  Under Mrs. Ellison's administration, she implemented a national 
headquarters with paid staff. It wasn't until the end of her second 
term, that the headquarters was fully operational. As national 
president, she continued her support of national and community service 
programs by representing The Links, Inc. in other major service 
organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League, Opportunities 
Industrialization, Inc., and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational 
Fund. One of her biggest accomplishments was the fulfillment of The 
Links' pledge to contribute half a million dollars to the United Negro 
College Fund (UNCF). Due to her transformative leadership, Mrs. Ellison 
was honored by numerous national and civic organizations for her 
tireless dedication to public service.
  Following the completion of her term as National President, she 
served in several other roles with The Links, Inc., as a member of the 
Executive Council for four years and the National Personnel Committee 
for eight years. She also assisted in the organization, staffing, and 
implementation of personnel policies and procedures for the national 
headquarters. She continued her service to the County of Arlington, 
Virginia by serving in numerous leadership roles in local civic 
organizations. For six years, she served as a delegate and president of 
the International Service Club Council--an organization of 32 
recognized service organizations in Arlington County.
  Mrs. Ellison served as community advisor to the Board of Directors of 
Arlington Hospital and as secretary of the Women's Committee of the 
Washington Performing Arts Society. Concurrently, she served as 
community advisor to the Northern Virginia Junior League and assisted 
the county as a member of the Classification and Pay Committee, 
responsible for advising the county in a comprehensive study and 
revision of its total classification and pay system for all employees.
  She was the first African American woman to become a member of the 
Board of Directors of Central Fidelity Banks, Inc., where she served on 
the public policy committee. While serving on the board, the 
corporation contributed one million dollars to support education of 
minority students.
  Mr. Speaker, Pauline A. Ellison has never sought public recognition 
for her hard work and dedication to the community. She has dedicated 
her life to the advancement, growth, and success of The Links, Inc. and 
to the County of Arlington, Virginia, in which she still resides. Her 
efforts and dedication as the 6th National President have elevated the 
organization to one of prominence and service to the community. She has 
been supported by her husband, Dr. Oscar Ellison, Jr., her children, 
Oscar Ellison III, Paula Mitchell, and Karla Ellison. As the Links, 
Inc. gather in Indianapolis for their 41st National Assembly, I join 
them in paying tribute and honoring the remarkable service of Pauline 
A. Ellison.

                          ____________________