[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 15 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               HONORING DR. HILLIARD LAWRENCE LACKEY III

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 24, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable pubic servant, Dr. Hilliard Lawrence Lackey, III.
  Hilliard Lawrence Lackey, III, was born to the late Hilliard 
Lawrence, Jr. and Cora Lackey on October 9, 1942.
  Dr. Lackey earned three degrees from Jackson State University: 
Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, Master of Science 
Degree in Education Administration/Supervision and an Education 
Specialist Degree in Educational Administration. Dr. Lackey also earned 
a Master of Arts in Historical Geography at the University of Arkansas 
and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Higher Education Administration at 
the University of Mississippi.
  Dr. Hilliard L. Lackey was an Assistant Professor of History and 
Alumni President (2004 to 2010) before he became Assistant to the 
Executive Vice President for External Affairs at Jackson State 
University (1967 to 2002). He also taught at LeMoyne-Owen College in 
Memphis in 2003 and 2004, and parts of 2005 and 2006.
  Dr. Lackey's talent and hobbies include: being a football referee and 
baseball umpire; a columnist for the Mississippi Link, St. Louis 
American, Clarksdale Press Register, and The Scoop; and a television 
program host for Scope and radio news director of the WMPR radio 
station.
  Dr. Lackey is married to the love of his life, former Lillian Troupe, 
a math teacher at Powell Middle School. They have four beautiful 
children: Dr. Katrina Lackey Davis, a Medical Doctor at the University 
of Tennessee Medical School; Hilliard L. Lackey, IV, a recipient of a 
bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas; Tahirih Charryse 
Lackey, a Ph.D. candidate at Georgia Tech; and Darryl William Lackey, 
an undergraduate student at Jackson State University who retired from 
Jackson State in 2010.
  Dr. Lackey became a writer at an early age and published a book, 
``Marks, Martin and the Mule Train'' in 1998 because there was no 
written information about the events of the Mule Train and the Poor 
People's Campaign during 1968 from Marks, MS to Washington, D.C.
  Another major accomplishment is that Dr. Lackey was the First Black 
Park Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico 
during the summers of 1964, 1965, 1966.
  Dr. Lackey felt it was his appointed duty to answer the call of 
President Lyndon Baines Johnson and help integrate the National Park 
Service. Although he was terrified as a young man being so far away 
from the cotton fields of Marks, his birthplace, he conquered his fear.
  Dr. Lackey survived three summers, mastered his job and paved the way 
for others. One of his encouraging encounters was when a black 
custodian working at the site put down his broom and became a Park 
Ranger during the time of his last year working there.
  Dr. Lackey also an unpublished book about being the First Black Park 
Ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. 
Hilliard Lawrence Lackey for his successes and accomplishments.

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