[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   IN MEMORIAL OF THOMAS J. LASSITER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 5, 2000

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate the life and memory of 
Mr. Thomas J. Lassiter of Smithfield, NC. Mr. Lassiter was a talented 
and influential journalist, a respected community figure, and a 
dedicated family man. As a journalist and editor of the Smithfield 
herald, Mr. Lassiter was widely known for his bold and careful thought 
and for taking sometimes umpopular, yet morally correct positions on 
issues of the day. History has proven that Thomas Lassiter was truly a 
man before his time.
  Thomas James Lassiter, Jr. was born on August 21, 1911, to Thomas and 
Rena Lassiter, and graduated from Duke University in 1932. After taking 
a year to play jazz trombone with the Jelly Leftwich orchestra, Mr. 
Lassiter returned to Smithfield to join his mother at the herald, where 
she was serving as editor. He remained at the paper for not quite half 
a century until his retirement in 1980. During the 1940's, 50's, and 
60's. Lassiter gained fame for his strong editorials on racial justice 
and his opinions on local and international issues. He also served as 
president of the North Carolina Press Association in 1951-52, and in 
1982 was elected to the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame. Mr. 
Lassiter also taught journalism at the University of North Carolina 
from 1948 to 1953.
  By virtue of the words he wrote in the Smithfield herald, Mr. 
Lassiter was already a public figure, but he also was motivated to 
serve his community through action. Over the years, he served as 
chairman or president of the Smithfield Library Board of Trustees, the 
Smithfield Chamber of Commerce, the local chapter of the North Carolina 
Symphony Society, and the Smithfield Kiwanis Club. He was also a leader 
at Smithfield First Baptist Church, as superintendent of Sunday school 
and church history. Mr. Lassiter was also committed to his family. 
Together he and Elizabeth, his wife of 61 years, raised two children 
who gave him four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
  Mr Speaker, before I close I want to read a quote form one of Mr. 
Lassiter's editorials. I believe it summarizes the greatness and vision 
of his work and gives us an idea of the intellect Mr. Lassiter 
possessed. This excerpt taken from an article titled ``A Regrettable 
Rift'' was written after some African American citizens were denied the 
right to register to vote in the 1945 Smithfield primary election.

       All the Negroes who presented themselves for registration--
     more than 75 of them--were turned down, while only two whites 
     were denied the privilege of getting their names in the book.
       Racial discrimination is on the way out in America and the 
     sooner the people generally recognizing that fact the better 
     it will be for whites as well as Negroes. Racial 
     discrimination is on the way out because it is fundamentally 
     wrong. It is contrary to the very heart of the teachings of 
     Jesus Christ. It is contrary to the highest concept of 
     democracy. It is specially forbidden by the Constitution of 
     the United States.
       Negroes pay taxes; they are subject to the same laws that 
     govern whites; they are drafted into the armed forces; they 
     shed their blood on the battlefields alongside of white 
     soldiers. If they are asked to spill their blood for 
     democracy, can we honorably deny them the right to share in 
     the democracy for which they fight?
       How long will the Negroes refrain from militancy or 
     belligerency in their struggle for basic rights? That depends 
     upon how soon the majority race frees itself from deep-rooted 
     prejudices and refrains from denying Negroes fundamental 
     democratic privileges which are guaranteed them by the 
     highest law in the land.

  Twenty years before the Voting Rights Act, the extraordinary 
editorial was bold, visionary and courageous. Mr. Speaker, Thomas J. 
Lassiter left us a legacy of words and actions that inspire us to 
improve our society, serve our local community, and uphold the honor of 
our families. I am honored to share his story and celebrate his legacy 
with this House today.

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