[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 200 (Monday, December 1, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CLIFTON LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SCOTT FRANKLIN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 1, 2025

  Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and legacy of Clifton Lewis, a beloved constituent from Bartow, 
Florida, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 82. Clifton was a 
veteran, a community leader, a tireless advocate for historic 
preservation and the driving force behind one of Florida's most 
important cultural landmarks, the L.B. Brown House.
  Clifton devoted more than two decades of his life to preserving and 
sharing the extraordinary story of Lawrence B. Brown, a man born into 
slavery who rose to become a respected builder, businessman and 
community leader in Bartow. When the Victorian home Brown constructed 
faced demolition in the late 1990's, Clifton stepped forward. He 
rallied neighbors, secured state support and carefully led the 
restoration of the structure. Thanks to his conviction and leadership, 
the L.B. Brown House stands today as one of the only known surviving 
homes in Florida built by a formerly enslaved person.
  But Clifton did far more than save a building, he revived a legacy. 
He founded and directed the L.B. Brown Heritage Festival, which 
celebrated its twenty-fourth year in 2025 and now attracts thousands of 
visitors. Through historical presentations, reenactments, music, food 
and fellowship, Clifton brought people together to honor the 
resilience, faith and contributions of African Americans in Polk County 
and across our Nation.
  His work gained national recognition. The Smithsonian displayed 
artifacts from the site, and the National Museum of African American 
History and Culture in Washington, D.C., includes an exhibit dedicated 
to Brown and the Bartow home, a testament to Clifton's perseverance in 
telling this remarkable American story.
  Clifton also served his country honorably in the United States Army 
and broke barriers as the first Black telephone technician in 
Washington, D.C. Throughout his life, he remained a man of deep faith, 
boundless positivity and unwavering commitment to his community. Even 
as he battled serious health challenges, he continued welcoming 
visitors to the museum, guiding tours and encouraging others to carry 
the work forward.
  His friends and fellow historians remember him as gracious, 
diplomatic and always focused on preserving not just facts, but the 
humanity and soul of a community. His leadership inspired a generation 
of local preservationists, and his legacy will live on through the 
museum, the festival and the many lives he touched.
  Mr. Speaker, Clifton Lewis was a remarkable Floridian and a guardian 
of our shared history. On behalf of Florida's 18th District, I extend 
my deepest condolences to his wife, Vendarae, his family, his friends 
and all who continue the mission he championed. May his memory be a 
blessing and may his life's work continue to educate and inspire for 
many years to come.

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