[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 7 (Monday, January 14, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E40-E41]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF MAYOR LARRY PAUL LANGFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 14, 2019

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life and legacy of the late Mayor Larry Paul Langford. 
Mayor Langford was a beloved member of the Birmingham, Fairfield and 
Jefferson County communities, who had bold dreams for the communities 
he loved and served He promoted economic development and made 
significant investments in the children and schools of Fairfield and 
Birmingham. Mayor Langford will be remembered as a larger than life 
personality who broke boundaries as the first black reporter for the 
region at WBRC; the first black Mayor of Fairfield, AL; the first black 
President of the Jefferson County Commission; and as a former Mayor of 
Birmingham. A Vietnam veteran, Mayor Langford served in public office 
in multiple capacities for nearly 23 years and will be greatly missed.
  On March 17, 1946, Larry Langford was born to John Langford and 
Lillian Nance Langford, as the oldest of six children. He grew up 
understanding the importance of a good education and having a strong 
foundation of faith to guide him. His mother often stressed that a 
quality education was the key to improving one's lot in life and 
encouraged all of her children to strive for academic success. A proud 
graduate of A. H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Langford took his 
mother's advice to heart, but placed his dreams of attaining a college 
degree on hold when he chose to enlist into the United States Air Force 
shortly after finishing high school.
  After serving for five years in the Air Force during the Vietnam Era, 
Langford returned home with a renewed sense of service to his community 
and quickly completed his college education at the University of 
Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Langford attained a Bachelor of Arts 
degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences and began working for a local 
news station. Langford became the first African American male to become 
a news reporter for WBRC 6 News in its region The importance of this 
role was never lost on Langford. He knew that after the tumultuous 
decade before, to have an African American man reporting the news in 
this area was just one of several signs that the City of Birmingham was 
changing. Langford did well as a reporter, using his charisma and 
outgoing personality, he was able to speak with the people of 
Birmingham every day and record their stories.
  After several years working as a reporter, Langford decided to run 
for his first political office. He was elected to the Birmingham City 
Council in 1977 where he quickly became known as the ``liveliest and 
most outspoken'' of the council members, as well as the most media-
savvy. He would frequently brief reporters before meetings and would 
then provide the most memorable or controversial quotes packaged in 
sound bites for television coverage. During his time on the Birmingham 
Council, he also worked as a radio news director and contributed to the 
Birmingham Times. After an unsuccessful run for Mayor of the City of 
Birmingham against fellow councilman Richard Arrington, Jr. in 1979, 
Langford temporarily retreated from public service.
  By 1982, Langford had moved to Fairfield, AL and married the love of 
his life, Melva Ferguson A few years later, Langford decided to return 
to public service and help the City of Fairfield respond to the 
complaints of the community. Langford ran for Mayor and won handily, 
defeating a crowded field of several candidates. Langford became the 
first African American Mayor of the City of Fairfield in 1988, another 
first for the charismatic public servant. After his election, he began 
an aggressive campaign to revitalize the city that included a massive 
project that would fix the streets and sidewalks of Fairfield. After a 
successful lobbying attempt to the Alabama State Legislature, Langford 
was granted more power in his role as Mayor over the Fairfield City 
Council, that allowed him to increase the city's sales tax to save 
Fairfield City Schools which were facing bankruptcy and the possible 
threat of having to close all of the public schools in the City. It was 
there that Langford became an outspoken advocate for students and began 
to find ways to make sure students who attended Fairfield City Schools 
would be ready for the technological advancements they would be facing 
in the near future.
  While the Mayor of Fairfield, Langford also distinguished himself by 
pushing for regional cooperation in economic development and he became 
the driving force behind an agreement of 11 Jefferson County 
municipalities to join forces in 1998 to finance the construction of 
Visionland Amusement Park in Bessemer, a $90 million project.
  During his fourth term as Fairfield Mayor, Langford set his eye on 
the Jefferson County Commission where he hoped his connections in 
Jefferson County would allow for stronger regional partnership amongst 
the cities of Jefferson County. Langford was elected to the Jefferson 
County Commission in 2002, defeating incumbent Jeff Germany. After 
being elected to the Commission, he was then elected President of the 
Jefferson County Commission; becoming the first African American to do 
so. A strong believer in helping students succeed, he proposed a 1 
percent sales tax that helped build 30 new schools and generated over 
$1 billion in revenue. These new resources were immediately put to use 
by the nearly 36,000 students who were a part of the Jefferson County 
School System at that time. This was one of Langford's most successful 
projects and the effects of these schools are still felt throughout the 
county today.
  In 2006, Langford attempted a second run for Mayor of Birmingham This 
time, he was successful and won enough votes to avoid a run-off 
election. Mayor Langford was sworn in on November 13, 2007. Just like 
he had done in Fairfield and on the Jefferson County Commission, as 
Birmingham Mayor, he put students first. Langford wanted to make sure 
that these students were getting every opportunity possible. Mayor 
Langford struck an agreement with a foundation that provided computers 
to children from developing countries, and got them to expand their 
reach to Birmingham City School. Nearly 17,000 elementary and middle 
school students received laptops that year.
  While Mayor Langford's 23-year political career resulted in many 
successful public projects, his service was not without its 
controversy. Mayor Langford's tenure as Birmingham mayor was cut short 
when a jury

[[Page E41]]

found him guilty of public corruption on October 28, 2009 and was 
sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. After serving eight and half 
years, on December 28, 2018, due to his failing health, Mayor 
Langford's sentence was commuted by a federal judge giving compassion 
release. The next day, Mayor Langford was transferred from a federal 
prison hospital in Lexington, Kentucky to Birmingham by ambulance where 
he was admitted to a Birmingham hospital and remained until his death 
on January 8, 2019.
  Mayor Langford was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in 
Fairfield, AL and frequently held bible studies to help promote the 
Word of God. He wanted to help the young men and women in his community 
to be guided by the strength and lessons of the Bible and to help heal 
the community through faith. Mayor Langford is survived by his beloved 
wife, Melva; son, Ronald Strothers; brother, Oliver Nance; niece, Lena 
Powe McDonald; sister-in-law, Casi Ferguson; two grandchildren, Ronald 
and Jared Strothers; and a host of other nieces, nephews, friends and 
supporters.
  On a personal note, I am grateful for the kindness shown to me by 
Mayor and Mrs. Langford when I first moved to Birmingham. Mayor 
Langford was a man of big vision and a huge heart that has left our 
community better because of his many initiatives. It was out of respect 
for his many good deeds that I was honored to play a part in getting 
Mayor Langford's compassionate release due to his failing health so 
that he could spend his final days in Birmingham. Mayor Langford died 
as he lived--with dignity, distinction and as a free man with his 
family, friends and community who loved him deeply.
  On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in remembering the life of Mayor Larry Paul 
Langford. May we celebrate the totality of his life today and honor his 
great works during his 23 years of service to Fairfield, Birmingham, 
and Jefferson County, Alabama.

                          ____________________