[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DR. VALMADGE R. TOWNER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the life and accomplishments of Dr. Valmadge R. Towner, an educator, 
pastor, and the President of Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, 
Mississippi. A son of the Mississippi Delta, Dr. Towner, has devoted 
his career to advancing opportunities for students and families across 
the region, combining academic rigor, steady leadership, and a deep 
commitment to community.
  Raised in Marks and Clarksdale, Dr. Towner comes from a family of 
educators and is a third-generation teacher. His early education at St. 
Elizabeth's Catholic School and graduation from Quitman County High 
School set the stage for a lifetime of service rooted in the Delta's 
values of perseverance, faith, and neighborly care. He and his wife, 
Natasha Brown Towner, chose to remain in the Delta, embodying a 
deliberate commitment to uplift the communities that shaped them.
  Dr. Towner's academic preparation reflects both breadth and depth. He 
earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a Master's in Mathematics, 
and a Master's in Administration from Alcorn State University. He 
further pursued theological study with a Master of Divinity from 
Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey and completed a Doctor of 
Philosophy in Educational Leadership at the University of Mississippi. 
This foundation has equipped him to lead with both analytical precision 
and moral purpose.
  Before assuming the presidency of Coahoma Community College in 2013, 
Dr. Towner served students in multiple capacities. He began as a 
college mathematics instructor and contributed to collegiate athletics 
as a head baseball coach and assistant football coach. In K-12 
education, he served as a principal and superintendent for Quitman 
County Schools and as Director of Pupil Services for DeSoto County 
Schools. A lifelong learner, he is known for reflective practices--
regular study and writing--that inform a disciplined, student-centered 
approach to leadership.
  At Coahoma Community College, Dr. Towner has guided the institution 
through challenging fiscal periods with prudence and accountability. He 
prioritized aligning expenditures with revenues, safeguarding a strong 
fund balance, and ensuring day-to-day practices reflect responsible 
stewardship. His administration improved campus safety though security 
fencing and gate enhancements and fostered a culture of teamwork and 
adaptability emblematic of the Delta's resourcefulness. These efforts 
supported a significant enrollment turnaround, including a twenty 
percent increase in a single year, and reaffirmed the college's vital 
role in workforce development and transfer education for the region.
  Beyond his duties on campus, Dr. Towner serves as pastor of 
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood, a congregation he 
has known since childhood. His civic leadership has been recognized by 
the Coahoma County and Mississippi State Conferences of the NAACP for 
exemplary service on higher education issues, and he has been named 
Citizen of the Year for Leflore County.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Valmadge R. Towner exemplifies the best of public 
service--steadfast in faith, committed to students, and devoted to the 
Mississippi Delta. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his 
distinguished service and ongoing contributions to education and 
community.

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