[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E184-E185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING WILEY RICKMAN WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 1, 2021

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. 
Wiley Rickman White. Mr. White was born January 14, 1931 in Mounds, 
Oklahoma. He was the ninth born of 10 children to the union of Norecker 
Harrell and Frank Joseph White. Mr. White grew up in a Christian family 
where Christian values were instilled and reinforced by his parents and 
their Church.
  He attended public schools in Mounds and graduated from Wheatly High 
School where he played football.
  Mr. White was an exceptional athlete at his High School and as a 
result of his abilities, he earned a football scholarship to attend 
Jackson State University in Mississippi where he displayed his talent 
on the field as a member of the JSU Tigers football team for four years 
as an undergraduate. Later, Mr. White was honored by his Alma Mater by 
being inducted in the Sports Hall of Fame wherein he was the 35th 
athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the University's 103-
year existence. As an honoree Mr. White was presented a plaque and a 
medal.
  Mr. White was also a very good student where he maintained a 3.5 
grade average and was a Charter Member of The Delta Delta Chapter, 
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. Mr. White completed college and 
earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree even while his studies were 
temporarily interrupted to serve his time in the U.S. Military where he 
moved up in the ranks as Sergeant in the U.S. Army serving in the 
Korean War. He earned an Honorable Discharge in 1960.
  Jackson State University is where Mr. White met the love of his life, 
Miriam H. Webb. The two married on December 22, 1951 and welcomed two 
children into the family during the mid-sixties. After finishing 
college and fulfilling his service obligation the two moved to Los 
Angeles, California in 1955. There, Mr. White worked at Markham Jr. 
High School as a physical education instructor. Because of his love for 
sports and athleticism, Mr. White began officiating high school 
basketball sporting events. He was later recognized by the IAABO 
(International Association of Approved Basketball Officials) as the 
first negro ever elected Secretary Treasurer of the organization. The 
IAABO is the largest organization of its kind in the world where they 
have jurisdiction over all high schools, semipro, and small college 
basketball officials. Mr. White also taught and coached football at 
Jordan High School in Los Angeles.
  Education was very important to Mr. White and he enrolled in The 
University of Southern California (USC) where he received a master's 
degree in business administration. Mr. White then expanded his career 
in teaching and worked as an educator/administrator in the Los Angeles 
Unified School District for 30 plus years and held positions as a 
classroom teacher, assistant counselor, assistant registrar, coach, 
youth service director, student body advisor, and vice principal mainly 
at the high school level until he officially retired in 1992.
  From 1968 through 1969 Wiley and his beautiful wife Miriam, built 
their dream home in Baldwin Hills, CA and moved their family into the 
home where they raised their children. The home was the site for many 
family parties, gatherings, holiday dinners, reunions, rehearsals, and 
meetings where he hosted numerous Jackson State University Alumni 
meetings and served as the Alumni's President for the Los Angeles 
Chapter.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late 
Mr. Wiley Rickman White.

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