[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 201 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1177-E1178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF PHILIP M. BAPTISTE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2023

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a 
native of my Congressional District, often referred to as ``The Leader 
in Firsts'', Mr Philip M. Baptiste, Jr.
  Philip M. Baptiste was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and 
dedicated himself to serving and bettering New Orleans' urban 
community. Baptiste attended two Historically Black Universities, 
Dillard University of New Orleans, and Atlanta University School of 
Social Work.
  Baptiste lived a lifetime of firsts; in 1967 he was appointed by 
Mayor Victor Schiro as the city's first black mayoral aide. In a 1996 
interview with Data Newsweekly, Baptiste said ``I was the only Black in 
City Hall at that time.'' That position would open the doors for other 
black Louisianians to follow. Baptiste was also the first Black man to 
serve the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in New Orleans. As President and 
Owner of Philip M. Baptiste Insurance Agency, Inc. which handled all 
lines of general insurance, i.e. Life, Fire, Casualty, and 
Hospitalization, Baptiste became one of the first Black citizens to 
hold such a license in the State of Louisiana.
  Baptiste was recruited by the U S. Army on February 6, 1950, and 
honorably discharged on May 25, 1950 after completing the 14 week basic 
training program.
  Conceivably, Baptiste's greatest passion was his love for the Zulu 
Social Aid and Pleasure Club. A member for 40 plus years, Baptiste once 
served as the organization's Recording Secretary and obtained the 
status of ``Honorary Lifetime Member'' and a Zulu Hall of Fame Member. 
In the 1980s, Baptiste organized the 1st Motor Patrol group of riders 
and became a welcoming presence every Mardi Gras Day on his scooter. As 
the official narrator for the annual Zulu Coronation Ball, in typical 
Baptiste fashion, he created a unique toast for coronation and other 
official Zulu events; ``All Hail Sip, All Hail Sip, All Hail Swallow!'' 
Anyone present at his toast will never forget how Baptiste went deep in 
the Merriam-Webster dictionary to describe King Zulu 1994 as ``being in 
all his splendiferousness.''
  Zulu's official historian noted that Baptiste is responsible for 
design changes to the organization's official medallion from a dull 
bronze to a bright gold color, as well as for securing Fischer's 
Jewelry as the maker of the official King's ring. Baptiste is also 
credited with leading and supporting many of Zulu's fundraising 
activities for its charitable activities.
  During the time Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Baptiste 
had served as Executive Director of Opportunities Industrialization 
Center of Greater New Orleans (OIC of GNO) for approximately 35 years. 
Founded in 1971, the entity's mission is to train and place the 
unemployed and under-employed individuals into unsubsidized jobs in New 
Orleans by helping them to overcome barriers to economic opportunity 
and social justice Baptiste assumed the leadership helm in February of 
1972, taking the Manpower program from the threat of termination to one 
of the more successful programs under the OIC of America umbrella.
  Under Baptiste's leadership, he guided the entity through important 
initiatives including CETA City of New Orleans Home Energy 
Rehabilitation, Office of Community Affairs LIHEAP, DOE/PVE Home 
Weatherization, Housing and Community Development Home Weatherization 
and Minor Repairs, JTPA City of New Orleans Carpentry, Department of 
Social Services DOE/PVE, LIHEAP, State of Louisiana Governor's Special 
Grant, and a Re-entry and Work Release programs in partnership with the 
Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriffs Office which provides training in 
construction trades in the areas of carpentry, electrical work and 
plumbing for prison inmates preparing to return to society. He was one 
of the first to introduce the GED program to participants of OIC, thus 
helping hundreds to complete that high school education.
  A close friend of New Orleans' first Black mayor, the late Ernest 
``Dutch'' Morial, Baptiste, along with Leah and Dooky Chase, were the 
first financial contributors to Dutch's campaign fund during his run 
for mayor. A 1950 graduate of McDonogh 35 High School, Baptiste had 
known Dutch Morial since their days together at the school where Morial 
was a quarterback and Baptiste was a water boy on the football team 
Baptiste was also an early supporter of the elder Morial's son, Marc 
Morial who served as Mayor of New Orleans from 1994 through 2002. As a 
member of the Louisiana Federation of Electors (LIFE), one of the most 
powerful Black political organizations in New Orleans, Baptiste 
remained politically active for decades Countless other African 
American elected officials would come to learn that they could count on 
Baptiste's support as well.
  Baptiste's social and civic affiliations support his theory of 
reaching out to the community. Baptiste was a member of the Board of 
Directors, Southwestern Providence, KAPPA ALPHA PSI Fraternity (pledged 
in 1954, Beta Gamma; Polemarch from 1969 through 1970) and member of 
the New Orleans Alumni Chapter, Solicitor to Muscular Dystrophy 
Campaign, and eventually Honorary Deputy, Parish of Orleans for 
contributing and participating in the Orleans Parish Grand July. 
Baptiste was the founder and First Vice-President of Frontiers 
International, Past President of Toastmasters International, Dryades 
Street YMCA, the Urban League of New Orleans, and the NAACP among 
others.
  Always a believer in self-improvement, Baptiste continued to receive 
training to help improve his management skills; including courses such 
as Management Skills Development Course sponsored by General Electric 
Management Development Institute, Executive Directors Management 
Training Course I, II, III and IV (OAMT) Opportunities Academy of 
Management Training OIC/America, Management Certificate in Non-Profit 
Organizations, IBM Community Executive Program and IBM Management 
Development Staff Program and others.
  Baptiste's work has earned him many honored awards and certificates: 
Individual Achievement Award Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity 1975, Street 
YWCA Century Club 1976-1978, National Consumer Information Center Award 
1974-1975, Honorary Citizen Certificates (Baton Rouge, LA, Albuquerque, 
New Mexico and Saginaw, Michigan), State of Texas House of 
Representative Congratulation Certificate 1977 and Certificates of 
Merit City of New Orleans 1972-73, 1977, the 1996 Joseph ``Scoop'' 
Jones Trailblazer for the month of December, 2001 Mayor's Division of 
Housing & Neighborhood Development Golden Hammer Award are just a few 
awards of recognition collected in his repertoire.
  Baptiste died June 21 in Atlanta after a lengthy illness. He was 91. 
He and his wife Nell, who died in 2021, relocated to Atlanta after 
Hurricane Katrina Prior to that, he spent his entire life in his 
hometown of New Orleans Baptiste once said that he would like to he 
remembered by these words, ``I came, learned,

[[Page E1178]]

served, and passed on to others.'' Most who know Baptiste would agree 
that he has accomplished his goal.
  The Greater New Orleans Community has lost a gem. I credit much of my 
political successes to him because of his guidance and support. I will 
forever carry his direction as I serve the constituents of LA02. May he 
forever rest in peace.

                          ____________________