[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 191 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                WENEFRETT WATSON'S CENTENARIAN BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 1, 2021

  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. 
Wenefrett Watson on her 100th birthday, and honor her decades of 
service in our East Bay community.
  Mrs. Watson was born in Marshall, Texas on October 29, 1921, to Dr. 
Oliver Wendell Phillips and Mayme Cecelia Adam Phillips. She completed 
two bachelor's degrees during her undergraduate studies, one in English 
Literature from Bishop College and one in Library Sciences from the 
University of Southern California. She worked for the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, Dr. 
James A. Watson. The Watsons relocated to Oakland, California in the 
1950s, where Mrs. Watson became active in the Oakland public schools.
  Mrs. Watson has been an important civic leader in our Oakland 
community. She was involved in many local organizations, including the 
Oakland Museum Commission, the Oakland Symphony Board, and the Oakland 
Anti-Poverty Board. Mrs. Watson's civil involvement is also notable, 
including her work with the PTA in the Oakland schools, and later with 
membership of the Oakland Bay Area Links, a volunteer service 
organization of women committed to ensuring the economic and cultural 
livelihoods of African Americans. She was also passionate about civil 
rights, and became active with the NAACP, the Urban League, and 
eventually ran for City Council.
  Mrs. Watson is a trailblazer in the Oakland business community, as a 
business owner and entrepreneur. She created and managed WenTravel and 
Cruise travel agency in the 1980s, holding contracts with the City of 
Oakland, County of Alameda, and the State of California. Mrs. Watson's 
work was exceptionally impactful as she offered young African American 
business owners' opportunities to follow in her footsteps. When she 
retired, she sought inspired and passionate young African American 
entrepreneurs who would carry on her business and her work in our 
Oakland community. Mrs. Watson remained active after retirement, 
inspiring other community leaders through her work in helping to start 
the Black Film Makers Hall of Fame. In 1997, she was honored by the 
Black Business Listings for her outreach and leadership.
  Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I 
commend Mrs. Wenefrett Watson for her lifelong work as a leader, 
activist, and entrepreneur, and warmly wish her a happy 100th birthday.

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