[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E678-E679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE JROTC MEMORIAL DAY ASSEMBLY AND WILLIAM McKINLEY 
                          PORTRAIT DEDICATION

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 28, 2019

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise to acknowledge 
the JROTC Memorial Day Recognition Assembly and the portrait dedication 
of former President William McKinley, who was assassinated only blocks 
away from McKinley High School here in Buffalo in 1901. The portrait 
was created by McKinley High School teacher assistant and Army Veteran, 
Reverend William C. Cobb, Jr., who generously donated his drawing to 
the school for this Memorial Day assembly honoring our fallen service 
members.
  Rev. Cobb was born in Orlando, Florida and joined the United States 
Army in 1962. During his service, he was recognized as ``Soldier of the 
Year'' in 1963. He received an honorable discharge and began pursuing a 
career in entertainment in Harlem, New York.
  In 1977, he relocated to Buffalo, New York to answer his call to the 
Christian Ministry. To prepare for his call to Christian Discipleship, 
he joined the Christian family of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal 
Church.
  Rev. Cobb is an exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, 
as well as a member of the Buffalo Arts Council and the Buffalo & Erie 
County Historical Society. He's depicted countless famous people, 
nationally and locally, throughout his career including: Oprah Winfrey, 
Former Assemblyman the Honorable Arthur O. Eve, Sr., Former Buffalo 
Mayor James Griffin, Al Sharpton, and Former City Councilman David 
Collins.
  The New York City Ministerial Alliance of the African Methodist 
Episcopal Church commissioned Rev. Cobb to Paint the founder and First 
Bishop of their church, Bishop Richard Allen. Bishop Allen's portrait 
is among the archives and permanent collection of The Schomburg Center 
for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library in Harlem.
  Rev. Cobb is a gifted man endowed with many talents. As a fine 
artist, he's drawn for more than sixty years and painted for 
approximately fifty years using various mediums and striving for 
perfection in realism. As a substitute teacher in the Buffalo Public 
School System, he shares his talents and guidance with the youth of our 
community.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I acknowledge the JROTC 
Memorial Day Assembly, former president William McKinley and Reverend 
William C. Cobb, Jr. Rev. Cobb's devotion to the arts and our community 
is an inspiration to us all. I also want to commemorate the service 
members of the United States military who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice in defense of our nation.

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