[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO MR. LEE RAYBURN PIONEER WESTSIDE OF CHICAGO BUSINESS AND 
                            COMMUNITY LEADER

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2020

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, the Almighty God has 
called to his eternal rest Mr. Lee Rayburn, a skilled mechanic and 
business leader who became a legend on the westside of Chicago in the 
automobile repair business. I met Mr. Rayburn in the late 1960's when 
one of my staffer Ms. Arlene Granderson introduced me to Mr. Nate Irwin 
who was her mechanic and was working at Rayburns Automobile Repair Shop 
at Roosevelt and Independence. Mr. Irwin became my mechanic and my 
friend as did his boss, Mr. Rayburn. For more than fifty years Mr. 
Rayburn and his mechanics repaired my cars, fixed my flats, and 
preformed tow services, whenever I needed them. I soon learned that Mr. 
Rayburn was not only good at repairing cars, but was also interested in 
community politics, social service activities and was a great financial 
supporter of community causes.
  He, Garfield Major, Willie Barney, The Knox Family at the hardware 
store, Cliff Duwel White, Walker Harris the iceman, Dave at the hot dog 
stand and Rev. Murphy at Rose of Sharon Cleaners became the heart of 
business support group in the area. Mr. Rayburn loved his business and 
loved the Lawndale Community. After he was no longer actively working, 
he would come up to the shop and sit around talking with customers and 
giving people advice. He was a great mechanic, a great businessman, a 
great family man, a great community leader, and he will be greatly 
missed.

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