[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1169-E1170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF RANDY CLINTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2020

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Randy Clinton, the 
President & CEO of the Community Enrichment Center, who will be 
retiring after 25 years of faithful leadership of the Tarrant County 
non-profit.
  Mr. Clinton received his Bachelor of Science in Education from 
Abilene Christian University, where he demonstrated his leadership 
skills through his role as the ACU Band Drum Major. After graduation, 
he initially served as Director of Recruiting at Abilene Christian, 
before his career path took him to Granbury where he opened a 
restaurant, and then moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for a 13-year 
career in banking. His varied background experience in the recruitment, 
business and finance fields provided him the skills that would prove 
necessary for the challenges he would eventually face with the 
Community Enrichment Center.
  Established in 1988, Randy joined the organization already in 
existence, but brought his personal and business skills to effectively 
manage and expand the organization's original mission to serve 
Northeast Tarrant County's growing community needs. The area's 
expanding population brought an ever-increasing need for assistance 
from individuals and families facing homelessness or other forms of 
personal crisis. To address the challenge, Randy led the acquisition 
and sale of several properties through debt-free operation and 
management of 206 properties. This effort to assist struggling families 
also involved offering additional support services including the CEC's 
Food Pantry, GED completion classes and other programs to improve job 
opportunities and wages to move individuals out of poverty to self-
sufficiency.
  This mission expanded significantly with the merger of CEC with Open 
Arms Home, Inc., allowing an even greater ability for Randy and his 
team to aid families in transition. It also expanded the capacity of 
CEC to assist victims of domestic violence by providing them the time 
and space necessary to work through their challenges in a healthy and 
supportive environment. Funding these efforts without debt required not 
only efficient management skills, but also creative funding. CEC, 
through Randy's efforts, was successful in securing, and successfully 
managing, a number of federal grants including Victims of Crime 
Assistance (VOCA), Other Victim Assistance Grant (OVAG), and HUD 
Homeless Housing grants. These grant funds, as well as other funding 
streams, supported the CEC's offerings to those in need, such as adult 
literacy programs and VITA Free Tax Preparation.
  His service wasn't limited to his official duties at the CEC. Mr. 
Clinton served his fellow North Texans through participation in several 
area boards, including the Northeast Leadership Forum, Northeast 
Tarrant Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast Richland Lions Club, the 
Joint Advisory Council for JPS Hospital and the United Way Northeast 
Steering Committee. He also shared his personal time and leadership 
skills as Board Chairman of the Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce, 
the Texas Homeless Network, Mid Cities Pacesetters Rotary, Tarrant 
County Continuum of Care for the Homeless, United Way Agency Partners 
and the Saginaw Area Chamber. He was also a founding member of Summer 
Santa and serves actively at The Hills Church of Christ as Elder and 
Class Leader.
  Randy Clinton successfully bridged his personal faith and 
professional skills as a compassionate community steward, leading the 
CEC to offer practical resources, tools and encouragement to community 
members in need. Thanks to his committed engagement, families have 
found transitional resources to move from crisis to stability and break 
the cycles of poverty and family violence. Bringing hope to current, 
and future generations of North Texas residents, Randy has made an 
indelible mark through his service with Community Enrichment Center. On 
behalf of the 26th Congressional District, I wish him and his family 
the same success and fulfillment his efforts over

[[Page E1170]]

the past quarter decade have enabled for so many other families.

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