[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6296-S6297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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       TRIBUTE TO THE 2019 ARKANSAS BLACK HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Class 2019 and the contributions made by 
the inductees to the African-American community and the State of 
Arkansas.
       The 2019 inductees are former legislators, business 
     leaders, entertainers, artists, and mentors. Their 
     accomplishments and accolades demonstrate how much of an 
     impact each has made in their fields, as well as on our 
     culture. Their historical significance is widely acknowledged 
     and bears out how deserving each honoree is of this 
     recognition.
       Irma Hunter Brown served in the Arkansas House of 
     Representatives for 22 years and also went on to serve as a 
     State senator. She was the first African-American woman to 
     serve in either body of the Arkansas General Assembly.
       Brown is also the president of the Friends of Haven of Rest 
     Cemetery, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving the 
     condition and appearances of the burial ground which serves 
     as a final resting place for several notable Black Arkansans, 
     including Daisy Gatson Bates, and contains a site 
     commemorating the 21 boys perished in the 1959 fire at the 
     Arkansas Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville. In 
     2008, Brown and a group of Haven of Rest supporters started a 
     project to clean up and restore the cemetery as it is a 
     significant part of Arkansas history. The group is now the 
     Friends of Haven of Rest Cemetery, Inc., which is continuing 
     the fundraising and care for the cemetery grounds.
       Wallace ``Wali'' Caradine was born in 1949 and grew up in 
     West Memphis. He was the first African American ever to 
     graduate from the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design 
     at the University of Arkansas in 1974. Four years later, with 
     his partner Sam Young, he established his first business, 
     Design and Construction Associates. The business venture 
     eventually became one of Arkansas' largest minority-owned 
     contracting firms.
       Architecture and design weren't only his profession; they 
     were his passion. In the mid-1990s, Caradine and Ron Bene 
     Woods formed Woods Caradine Architects. In 2007, he 
     established Caradine & Company, where he worked until his 
     retirement in early 2017. As an architect, Caradine left his 
     footprints in many places across Arkansas, designing several 
     notable facilities still in use today.
       Wali Caradine was also dedicated to his community. He was a 
     mentor to many minority building contractors in central 
     Arkansas. In 1986, he founded the Arkansas Chapter of the 
     National Association of Minority Contractors. Between 2009 
     and 2013, Caradine was a member of central Arkansas advisory 
     committee for the University of Arkansas.
       John Donley was born in Gould, AR, but has left his mark on 
     our country's entertainment industry. He is a producer, 
     executive, and an award-winning television writer.
       Donley wrote for many of the most beloved comedies of the 
     1970s and `80s, including ``Diff'rent Strokes,'' ``Good 
     Times,'' and ``The Jeffersons.'' He won an NAACP Image Award 
     for his writing in an episode of ``Diff'rent Strokes.'' In 
     addition to writing for hit shows, Donley has also worked 
     with Hollywood stars such as Sinbad and Curtis Mayfield and 
     found a home at the big-name networks ABC and CBS. While he 
     clearly has the ability to make people laugh, John Donley 
     also uses his talent to unite audiences all over the country.
       Ed Johnson has coached 27 players who went on to play in 
     the National Football League; however, his impact on the 
     Little Rock community and the United States goes beyond the 
     field. Coach Johnson is a Vietnam war veteran whose service 
     is marked by two Purple Heart Awards, a Bronze Star Award, 
     and Presidential Citations.
       Upon returning home in 1971, Coach Johnson helped organize 
     the Sunset Youth Sports Program in Little Rock and by the 
     next year had formed the Sunset Tigers Football Team. While 
     he is passionate about his role as a football coach, Johnson 
     uses this position to change kids' lives off of the field. 
     Coach Ed Johnson has served the Little Rock community for 48 
     years and is believed to be the longest serving active 
     community youth football coach in Arkansas.
       Kristin Lewis is a native of Little Rock and a globally 
     recognized lyrico-spinto soprano. She graduated from the 
     University of Central Arkansas in 1999 with a bachelor's 
     degree in vocal performance and also received a master's 
     degree from the University of Knoxville in 2002. Since then, 
     she has performed in many prestigious venues, including the 
     Vienna State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, and the Teatro 
     San Carlo in Naples.
       She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 
     January 2019. Lewis has been widely praised for her 
     performances. Her talents have also been recognized with 
     several awards, including the Orazio Tosi Prize from Parma 
     Lirica in 2012, Savonlinna Opera Festival's Artist of the 
     Year in 2010, and the Ferrucio Tagliavini International 
     Singing Competition in 2005.
       Lewis's first musical environment was within her family. 
     Having this insight into the role of environment to enhance 
     and develop one's talents, she established the Kristin Lewis 
     Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that fosters the 
     development of young singers through competition and 
     scholarships. Foundation activities, including fundraising 
     events and vocal competitions, are hosted in central 
     Arkansas. Lewis is also very active in humanitarian work

[[Page S6297]]

     outside of the U.S., being an ambassador for the Red Cross in 
     Austria and supporter of Animal Care Austria.
       Roscoe Robinson is an acclaimed artist across both the 
     gospel and R&B genres. He has performed with popular gospel 
     groups such as the Highway Q.C.'s, the Fairfield Four, Five 
     Blind Boys of Mississippi, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the 
     Five Trumpets. Though he was successful in the gospel 
     community, his talents did not stop there.
       Through the 1980s, Roscoe also recorded a number of popular 
     rhythm and blues songs. Roscoe is originally from Dermott, 
     AR, but his talents have touched the souls of fans across 
     Arkansas and America.
       Each of these inductees has earned a place of honor as a 
     result of the lives they have lived and the work they have 
     done over many years. The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Class 
     of 2019 is clearly an exemplary group, and I congratulate 
     each member and their loved ones, who have also been on their 
     journeys, on this tremendous recognition.

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