[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E356-E357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DOLORES H. HICKAMBOTTOM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2022

  Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, Dolores H. Hickambottom is a true legend in 
Altadena, Pasadena and the Greater San Gabriel Valley. Widely admired 
and greatly respected in the community, she was at the forefront of 
many monumental issues for over five decades.
  Dolores led the effort to desegregate the schools who were part of 
the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). After PUSD had failed to 
integrate its schools, they were sued by community members resulting in 
the 1970 landmark case of Spangler vs. the Pasadena City Board of 
Education. Dolores did everything she could to help the plaintiffs and 
organized hundreds of residents in the Pasadena area to support them, 
while at the same time educating people about the racial segregation 
affecting the school district. Due to the monumental efforts of Dolores 
and members of the community, the case went up to the U.S. District 
Court, which ultimately determined that racial segregation existed at 
all levels of PUSD. As a result, Pasadena was integrated and became the 
first school district west of the Mississippi to have crosstown 
bussing.
  Dolores also went to great lengths to raise the visibility of African 
Americans in government. During her early years in Pasadena, Dolores 
noticed that few African Americans in the community attended city 
council meetings. They saw the lack of representation in their local 
government and rightly believed their voices would not be heard. 
Dolores made it her mission to correct this problem and deliver the 
representation the African American community deserved. Through hard 
work and determination, Dolores helped to elect Pasadena's first 
African-American and second female mayor, Loretta Thompson-Glickman, in 
1977, and later served as her field representative. Dolores went on to 
serve in other important political roles, including as a staff member 
for California State Senators Walter Stiern, Richard Polanco, and Jack 
Scott.
  Dolores had so many interests and passions, serving on the boards of 
numerous community organizations from the League of Women Voters to the 
Pasadena Chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus to Pasadena 
City College. However, most impressive of all was her service in the 
Korean War. Dolores was one of the few women serving in the United 
States Army, and one of the few people of color. Even though the odds 
were against her, she excelled in her position and was recognized as an 
outstanding basic trainee. Dolores never forgot her service in the 
military and joined organizations like American Legion Post 13 so that 
she could provide support to struggling Veterans. Throughout her years, 
she made it a priority to help Veterans in the community and was a 
crucial part in establishing a Veteran's Community Based Outpatient 
Clinic in the San Gabriel Valley. Dolores' commitment to her fellow 
veterans will live on and continue to serve those who were brave enough 
to stand beside her.
  For her entire lifetime, Dolores Hickambottom broke barriers, built 
bridges, and strove to make the world a greater place. She was a hero 
to the community and her incredible legacy will forever serve as an 
inspiration to us all.

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