[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF BILLY ALEXANDER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 2021

  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
service of Billy Alexander, a dedicated public servant who worked 
tirelessly on behalf of childhood education in West Contra Costa County 
and throughout California.
  Billy and his wife, Barbara, advocated for issues that affected 
children across our state. After Billy served in the Korean War as a 
member of the U.S. Army, Billy and Barbara returned to California and 
settled in Richmond to raise their family. Parents of eight children, 
the Alexanders took a direct role in the education process by first 
joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). This led to them 
participating in junior high and high school PTAs and School Advisory 
Councils, where they established themselves as a collective force for 
good in our community. Billy and Barbara would eventually become co-
Chairs of the District Advisory Committee and spent 27 years in that 
role.
  Billy and Barbara also displayed their knowledge of and passion for 
childhood education on the state and national levels. They participated 
in developing the California Strategic Plan for Parental Involvement in 
Education, and Billy served on the California Committee of 
Practitioners, which helped develop Title I plans for the state. He was 
appointed to the California Department of Education's Council of Black 
Affairs and to the Committee to Revise Title 5. Additionally, in 1977, 
the Alexanders won a California court case requiring school districts 
to ensure federal and state funds designated for Title I were actually 
used for that purpose. On a national level, Billy and Barbara served on 
the Board of Directors for the National Coalition of Title I/Chapter I 
Parents and on the National Council on Educating Black Children.
  The Alexanders dedicated their lives to serving the needs of children 
in an effort to promote equitable educational opportunities. They 
touched the lives of countless families and created numerous programs 
benefiting the children and families of Richmond, including Vision of 
Hope--a weekend tutoring program that expanded to Summer of Hope, which 
operated as an alternative to summer school. They also created the 
Mother Hen/Chanticleer Awards to honor individuals who exceptionally 
served West Contra Costa Unified School District students. From helping 
parents become better advocates for their children to gifting books to 
students, the Alexanders worked diligently to create better and more 
equal opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
  Billy and Barbara were married for 44 years until Barbara passed in 
2001. Sadly, Billy passed away in November of 2020. Billy was a beloved 
resident of Richmond and a tremendous advocate for children and he will 
be missed. Please join me in honoring him for his many contributions to 
our community.

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