[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E987-E988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF MR. RALPH PAIGE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2018

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I 
rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding leader and dear friend of 
longstanding, Mr. Ralph Paige. Sadly, Mr. Paige passed away on 
Thursday, June 28, 2018. A funeral service was held on Friday, July 6, 
2018 at 11:00 a.m. at New Community Church in LaGrange, Georgia.
  A LaGrange, Georgia native, Ralph Paige received his Bachelor's 
degree in Education in 1967 from what is now Fort Valley State 
University and attended graduate school at the University of North 
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  Ralph joined the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance 
Fund (the Federation) in 1969 as a Grassroots Organizer and

[[Page E988]]

went on to serve as the Director of the Federation's Business 
Development Office in the 70's; Director of the Federation's VISTA 
Project from 1977 to 1981; and as the Federation's National Field 
Director from 1981 until 1985 when he was promoted to the role of 
Executive Director, where he served with great distinction until his 
retirement in 2015.
  During his 46-year tenure with the Federation, it flourished 
immensely and was instrumental in the creation of housing projects, 
community credit unions, cooperatives, and training programs for 
African-American farmers throughout the South. Ralph led the effort to 
file suit against the United States Department of Agriculture for 
discrimination in credit, conservation and rural development. Out of 
this effort, the Pigford I and Pigford II class action lawsuit cases 
were born. This paved the way for one of the largest discrimination law 
suits in the history of the United States and resulted in $2.5 billion 
in payments to African American farm families. Furthermore, he also 
fought for settlements for Native American, Hispanic and Women Farmers 
who were also the victims of discrimination.
  Ralph was a member of numerous local, state, and national boards to 
include: Nationwide Insurance Company, National Cooperative Business 
Association, Cooperative Development Foundation, Cooperative Business 
International, the President's (George Bush) Twenty First Century 
Agriculture Commission, and the Rural Policy Advisory Committee to 
President Barack Obama and many more. Among his acclamations were 
inductions into the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of 
Fame and the Cooperative Hall of Fame; a Congressional Black Caucus 
Leadership Award; and a National Cooperative Business Association Co-op 
Month Leadership Award. Under Ralph's outstanding leadership, the 
Federation received several commendations including a Humanitarian 
Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social 
Change and a United Nations Award for ``significant contribution of 
adequate shelter to the poorer segments of the community.''
  Ralph accomplished much throughout his life, but it would not have 
been possible without his enduring faith in God and the love and 
support of his wife of 51 years, Bernice; his children, Bernard and 
Kenyatta; and the countless others who impacted his life over the years 
.
  On a personal note, Ralph and the federation worked diligently to 
facilitate a business loan to establish my law firm in Columbus, 
Georgia. I represented the Federation as an Attorney and during my 
years as a member of the Georgia General Assembly, I worked with Ralph 
and the Federation to enhance and facilitate state resources for the 
work of the Federation and its Land Assistance Activities. As a member 
of Congress, serving on the House Agriculture Committee and the 
Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee, I along 
with other Members of the Congressional Black Caucus collaborated with 
Ralph Paige, the Federation and other organizations to enhance the full 
participation of minority and disadvantaged farmers in the receipt of 
resources for Agriculture, Conservation and Rural Development from the 
United States Department of Agriculture.
  The great agricultural chemist Dr. George Washington Carver once 
said, ``No individual has any right to come into the world and go out 
of it without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having 
passed through it.'' We are all so blessed that Ralph Paige passed this 
way and during his life's journey did so much for so many for so long. 
His leadership, his friendship, and his presence will be greatly 
missed.
  Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, the 48 members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, along with the more than 730,000 people of 
the Second Congressional District, extend our heartfelt condolences to 
Ralph's family and friends during this difficult time. May they be 
consoled and comforted by their abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in 
the days, weeks, and months ahead.

                          ____________________