[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4490]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        IN MEMORY OF BEN RANDALL

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have lost a very dear 
friend, and the Houston community has lost a dear friend, and as well 
Texas, and maybe even the Nation. Ben Randall, a community activist 
lost his life just about a week ago. I rise today to pay tribute to an 
individual who never said no to the community needs of Houston, Texas.
  Energetic, creative, thoughtful, and caring was Ben Randall. He loved 
his family. He loved his two sons, outstanding as they are, leaders in 
their own right, academic geniuses. Ben Randall was always so proud.
  He worked for Texas Southern University. He was a community relations 
activist, working for Enron. He worked for small businesses and tried 
to develop opportunities for minority businesses to do and have greater 
economic opportunities. He helped on issues of fund-raising for any 
charity one can imagine.
  He loved his God. He loved his church, Windsor Village United 
Methodist Church. He was an activist there. He had prayer partners. He 
prayed for others.
  Whenever there was an opportunity to share his values and his 
commitment to the greatness of this Nation, Ben Randall was there. He 
loved this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I would simply say that, as we bury him and as we buried 
him in his hometown of San Antonio, the tears of those of us who lived 
in Houston continue to pour.
  We memorialize him today on April 5 in Houston because so many 
friends could not make it to San Antonio, but they needed to honor him 
and say good-bye. It is right to pay tribute to him and to do it with 
love, and do it with respect.
  I say farewell to my friend, Ben Randall. He may be gone, but he will 
be forever in our memories. We salute him for the great humanitarian 
efforts he made on behalf of so many people. God bless him and God 
bless America.

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