[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 134 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN REMEMBRANCE OF DEVOYD JENNINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 30, 2021

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
Mr. Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings, the longtime President and CEO of the Fort 
Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. After a distinguished 41-
year long career within the organization, Mr. Jennings passed away on 
July 24, 2021 at the age of 73.
  After graduating from Texas Wesleyan University in 1971 with a degree 
in marketing, Mr. Jennings had a 27-year career at TXU as a Community 
Affairs Specialist and was the first African-American lobbyist employed 
by Texas Electric. Since its establishment, he worked for over four 
decades in various positions within the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black 
Chamber of Commerce. His commitment to ensure the organization's 
mission ``to make Fort Worth a better place to work and raise a 
family'' truly serves as a model of civic leadership.
  Mr. Jennings' professional and philanthropic efforts merited numerous 
awards from the Fort Worth community, including two commemorative City 
of Fort Worth ``Devoyd Jennings'' days in 1992 and 2005. The Fort Worth 
Business Press awarded him the Deal Maker award in 1998, recognized his 
contributions as a ``Who's Who in Economic Development'' in 1999, and, 
most recently, honored him with its ``Minority Leaders in Business 
Award'' in 2017.
  Mr. Jennings worked tirelessly to provide new educational and 
economic opportunities for the citizens of Fort Worth. Amongst his 
endeavors, he helped established two standalone organizations, the 
William Mann Community Development Corporation and Southeast Fort Worth 
Inc., which continue to encourage growth and development in minority 
neighborhoods in Fort Worth. In addition, he was instrumental in the 
reconstruction and reopening of his beloved high school alma mater, 
I.M. Terrell, as a STEM & Performing Arts Center.
  I join the community of Fort Worth in honoring Mr. Jennings' life and 
legacy and extend my sincere condolences to his friends and family. 
Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings led a life of outstanding civic virtue and 
service and his dedicated efforts to improve Fort Worth as a place to 
live and work will continue to positively benefit his hometown for 
years to come.

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