[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 209 (Friday, December 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1311-E1312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF LONNIE BRAXTON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 3, 2021

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
commendable career of a dedicated public servant and important figure 
in southeastern Connecticut, Lonnie Braxton. After 24 years of service 
as the Senior Assistant State's Attorney for juvenile matters for New 
London County, Lonnie retires on December 14th, 2021. Throughout his 
career, Lonnie has been a stalwart guardian defending civil rights 
within his community and a source of wisdom and guidance through his 
leadership positions within the State and local branches of the NAACP. 
Though the setting of Lonnie's public service has evolved throughout 
his career, his north star has always been driven by his mission to 
assist others. He has served honorably throughout his career, 
representing a true commitment to civil rights and justice.
  Born in 1948, Lonnie was raised in Greenville, Mississippi where he 
attended high school and signaled his high level of competence, joining 
the U.S. Navy Reserves by his sophomore year. Upon his graduation, he 
served 18 months on Active Duty aboard the USS Amphion AR-13. After 
completing his Active Duty service with the Navy, our region became 
lucky enough for Lonnie to take a job with the submarine manufacturer 
Electric Boat in Groton, ultimately causing him to choose southeastern 
Connecticut as his new home. Lonnie went to work at Electric Boat for 
10 years, holding various positions including electronics mechanic, 
radiation control monitor, property control analyst, and technical 
administrator in the material department. His technical skills and 
expertise were highly prized in an enterprise that adheres to a 
standard of excellence. He knew from his naval service that the lives 
of sailors depended on doing the job right.
  Lonnie, of course, was destined to help his community in a different 
way--to make sure our courts protected the rights of every citizen 
young or old who came into contact with the criminal justice system. 
Following his time with Electric Boat, Lonnie went on to further his 
education, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Connecticut 
College in 1986 and subsequently a Juris Doctorate from the University 
of Connecticut School of Law in 1988. He immediately immersed himself 
in legal work, where he gained the experience that prepared him for his 
paramount work as a Senior Assistant State's Attorney with the 
Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Since 1997, he has worked in 
Juvenile Court where he has furthered the agency's mission of promoting 
restorative justice, accountability, and rehabilitation. Lonnie 
overcame all resistance faced in his career, relentlessly representing 
every member of his community in the courtroom.

[[Page E1312]]

  Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I first met Lonnie as a fellow 
attorney during my time as a practicing attorney in eastern 
Connecticut. His intelligence and compassion were apparent to me during 
the inevitable waiting time that lawyers experience in the court 
system. Based on that friendship, Lonnie in 2007 recommended a young 
attorney, Ms. Ayanti Grant, to apply for a job in my district office. 
Lucky for me, I offered her a job doing constituent immigration 
casework, and today she is the District Director for Connecticut's 
second district. I will be forever grateful to Lonnie for that 
fortuitous suggestion of Ayanti Grant, that has benefited thousands of 
citizens in eastern Connecticut.
  Lonnie spent considerable time outside of his duties as a prosecutor 
serving his local communities. He is a member of the Board of Finance 
for the City of New London, a past member of the New London Planning 
and Zoning Committee, a member of the New London Schools Truancy Review 
Board, among others. He has demonstrated a commitment to the well-being 
of others and has helped guide southeastern Connecticut's next 
generation of legal advocates and civil figures. He became the First 
Vice President of the Norwich Branch of the NAACP upon its founding in 
1963. He has fought for equality and civil rights for decades, having 
been a former President of the New London Branch of the NAACP. His work 
has paved the way for current and future activists to continue making 
gains for all residents of eastern Connecticut. Lonnie has lived 
through and helped foster great change in his lifetime, helping lead 
our Nation's continuing civil rights movement.
  Outside of his career, Lonnie has demonstrated a passion for family, 
history, and the arts. He is the proud father of Lonnie Braxton III, 
who won the gold medal and silver medal in tennis at the National 
Special Olympics Games in 2010. This commitment to family runs into the 
past, as he is also the proud keeper of his family's stories and 
history. He is a renowned speaker and lecturer on the civil rights 
movement, African-American History, and African-American cinema. This 
history is crucial to our Nation's present and it is due to the efforts 
of historians such as Lonnie that the Nation can look to the past and 
continue striving to fulfill its great promises. Lonnie has also 
dedicated himself to collecting African-American movies from the 20th 
century. These arts have greatly contributed to the culture of the 
United States and we benefit tremendously from Lonnie's preservation 
efforts.
  Madam Speaker, Lonnie's contributions in administering and advocating 
for justice within Connecticut's Second District are immeasurable and 
deserving of an equal amount of gratitude. His life and career, 
dedicated to public service, exist as an inspiration to those who 
follow in his footsteps. Although his retirement from the Connecticut 
Division of Criminal Justice undoubtedly leaves large shoes to fill, he 
has demonstrated that the principles that have guided his career are 
larger than any one position. After such a long tenure in service, I 
also cannot imagine that his valuable insight will continue to go 
untapped. Lonnie will continue on to the next phase of his life with 
his family, his wife, Gwendolyn Bosco, and his son, Lonnie Braxton III. 
To these ends, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring, 
thanking, and congratulating Lonnie Braxton for his successful 
commitment to the public well-being and safety. There is no better way 
to honor such a steadfast steward of our community than immortalizing 
his career through the Congressional Record.

                          ____________________