[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H3998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING RUTH PATRICK THOMAS

  (Mr. Bacon of Nebraska was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the late 
Mrs. Ruth Patrick Thomas, an Omaha icon and pioneer for the North Omaha 
community.
  Living a wonderful and blessed 105 years, Mrs. Thomas' life is marked 
by service and love for all, touching the hearts of many in each of the 
various roles she maintained.
  Graduating from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1943, Ms. 
Thomas wed Francis Thomas the same year and joined him in caring for 
the home and family business, the Thomas Funeral Home.
  Active in the community, she also devoted her efforts to the League 
of Women Voters for nearly two decades, directed the YWCA, and focused 
on cultivating kinship within her neighborhoods.
  Behind her service to others, Mrs. Thomas championed many milestones, 
such as being one of the first board members to vote in favor of 
desegregating Omaha Public Schools, being the first of three women at 
Zion Baptist Church to be appointed to trustee, and, in 1954, enrolling 
and graduating from the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis as the 
only female and African-American person in her class.
  Her lifetime of accomplishments has been recognized by the NAACP with 
the NAACP Freedom Fighter's Award and with a Diamond Award bestowed by 
the Delta Epsilon Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 
Inc., for over 75 years of service.
  Mr. Speaker, to the family and North Omaha friends of Mrs. Thomas, I 
offer my deepest condolences on her passing, and I stand with pride to 
have had such a wholesome and selfless person to be a part of 
developing our community.


                   Recognizing LaVon Stennis Williams

  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize a true 
example of resiliency, generosity, and commitment to serving others, my 
friend LaVon Stennis Williams from Omaha, Nebraska.
  LaVon is a woman of many titles: attorney, author, entrepreneur, and 
mentor. Perhaps her most defining characteristic is her unwavering 
commitment that our past does not define our future and that history, 
when preserved, can be a powerful tool for healing.

                              {time}  1030

  A graduate of Creighton University with her bachelor's and juris 
doctorate degrees, LaVon has spent her life building bridges. In 2012, 
drawing from her own personal journey, she founded ReConnect, 
Incorporated. This nonprofit has served over 500 individuals, helping 
those currently or formerly incarcerated navigate the difficult 
transition back into society. Through her Success Prep curriculum, she 
teaches a philosophy that our communities desperately need: the mindset 
of being better, not bitter.
  But LaVon's service to Omaha doesn't stop at professional 
development. She understands that to move forward, we must also look 
back. She transformed her private doll collection into a doll museum of 
African-American history. This museum houses a collection of over 3,000 
historic dolls, and it is free for all.
  Far more than simple artifacts, these figures serve as a unique lens 
through which people can examine these three centuries of Black history 
and culture. This museum stands as a testament to her belief that 
understanding where we have been is essential to determining where we 
are going.
  Whether she is writing children's books to honor the legacy of the 
Tuskegee Airmen through her publishing house, TwoBee Publishing, or 
coaching a client toward a new career path, LaVon Stennis Williams is a 
builder of dreams.
  LaVon Stennis Williams has made extraordinary contributions to 
Nebraska's Second Congressional District, and we are grateful for her 
tireless work in preserving our Nation's history by empowering its 
future.
  I thank LaVon Stennis Williams.

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