[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 159 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4387-H4388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
                        REMEMBERING LEROY JORDAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember 
Leroy Jordan. He was a beloved educator and community leader who passed 
away on September 5, 2020.
  Leroy was a native of Murphysboro, Illinois, and a graduate of 
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Leroy was hired by Iles 
Elementary School in Springfield, becoming the first Black male teacher 
in the district. He later served on that district's school board, 
including two terms as school board president. He also went on to 
become the vice president of academic affairs at Sangamon State 
University, which is now known as the University of Illinois at 
Springfield.
  He was a dedicated servant and leader to his community. He advocated 
for freedom and justice, perhaps most notably in his involvement in a 
1974 desegregation lawsuit that created a busing system that helped 
balance the White and Black populations in Springfield's public schools 
and encouraged the hiring of more minority teachers.
  Leroy was a legend in the city of Springfield, both in and out of the 
classroom. He was active in the Springfield Diocese, serving as the 
director of Black Catholic Ministries and instrumental with the 
Springfield Dominican Anti-Racism Team. He was also a member of Prince 
Hall Freemasons and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
  For so many, including our mutual good friend Irv Smith, Leroy was a 
friend, a role model, and a mentor. He will truly be missed.
  My prayers are with his wife, Johnetta; four daughters; and 
grandchildren.


                       Congratulating Dove, Inc.

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Dove, Inc., on celebrating 50 years of dedicated service 
to their community. Formed in July of 1970, Dove has seen considerable 
growth in both their organization and the impact they have made on 
their community.
  Dove is a coalition of religious organizations that has excelled in 
their mission to address unmet human needs and social injustices. Their 
ministry, shared through a network of volunteers and advocates, aims to 
empower individuals to become self-reliant by encouraging clients' 
freedom to make responsible decisions and determine their future based 
on informed opinions.
  For half a century, community leaders at Dove have provided some of 
the most vulnerable in their community a place where they are cared for 
with dignity and compassion while on their path toward healing and 
self-sufficiency.
  Dove provides services on important issues, such as domestic 
violence, homelessness, emergency financial assistance, and prevention 
education programming to K through third grade students. They currently 
impact thousands of citizens every year through their various community 
service programs.
  Again, congratulations to Dove, Inc., on their 50th anniversary. I 
wish them and those they serve nothing but the best in the years to 
come.


                    Congratulating Thomas J. Wickham

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss not to 
offer heartfelt congratulations to somebody who, over the last 8 years, 
has not just been a colleague but has become a friend while standing up 
at that same Speaker's rostrum when we were in the majority. The 
gentleman is none other than the House Parliamentarian, Tom Wickham.
  Tom has helped so many people on our side of the aisle. Now, as the 
other side has taken the majority, you have gotten to witness firsthand 
what I learned from Tom and the great people who work in the House 
Parliamentarian's Office during my 6 years in the majority and being 
able to be up in that chair working directly with him.
  Tom is somebody who I think everybody got to know very well as 
someone who is actually very fair at administering the rules of this 
House. But I

[[Page H4388]]

always enjoyed most walking by his office and harassing him if his 
favorite baseball team wasn't doing that well or if his favorite 
college football team may have lost to one of the others in the Big 
Ten.
  An institution like the House of Representatives will move on from 
all of us who are here now, but this one is a hard one to replace.
  I thank Tom Wickham for his service, and I wish the best to Jason 
Smith, his successor.

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