[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 22787-22788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     IN MEMORY OF MAMON POWERS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow and a heavy heart 
that I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of a pioneer in the 
communities of Northwest Indiana. Mr. Mamon Powers, Sr., a construction 
worker and owner of Powers and Sons Construction Company, died on 
Tuesday, November 13, 2001, following a long struggle with illness, and 
will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 17, 2001. Mr. Powers was 80 
years old.
  Mamon Powers, Sr. was born of humble means in the small town of 
Churchill, Mississippi. The son of a preacher and homebuilder, Mamon 
learned the virtues of hard work and strong faith at an early age. 
Although African-Americans were only allowed to attend school through 
eighth grade in Churchill at that time, Mamon refused to be encumbered 
by the bonds with which society attempted to restrict the rights of 
African-American citizens. He continued his education by attending 
Campbell College, now known as Jackson State University, and by serving 
his country in the United States military.

[[Page 22788]]

  To the benefit of Northwest Indiana, Mamon Powers, Sr. came to the 
city of Gary after serving with the military. He went to work in the 
steel mill, but quickly learned that he would not be successful because 
racial barriers prohibited many African-Americans from joining the 
union. However, Mamon's love for the community and his determination to 
succeed led him to work for Means Developers. With the addition of 
Mamon's knowledge of construction and his desire to make the city of 
Gary a better place, Means Construction developed one of the city's 
finest neighborhoods, Means Manor.
  Mamon Powers, Sr. began his own construction company in the early 
1950's and eventually became one of the first African-American members 
of a union in the city of Gary. Over the years, he developed his 
business into the most successful African-American construction company 
in the state, and one of the 100 largest in the country. Powers and 
Sons Construction Company was also recognized nationally by the Small 
Business Administration in 1997 for its minority business development 
initiatives. He was responsible for the construction of hundreds of 
private homes in Northwest Indiana, as well as the construction of many 
commercial buildings. His professional career made an impact on the 
community that cannot be measured simply by the number of buildings he 
created. His love for his work was revealed in his creations, and it 
inspired the citizens of Gary to take pride in their community.
  While Mamon was dedicated to his work, his love for his family and 
his community remained his top priority. He was committed to his late 
wife, Leolean, and their six children, Mamon, Jr., Mark, Demetrius, 
Claude, Florita, and Marquita. He served on the Methodist Hospital 
Board of Directors and as a member of the Lake County Community 
Development Committee. In 1989, he was inducted into the Steel City 
Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to Northwest Indiana. 
Earlier this year, the Frontiers Service Club nominated Mamon for the 
prestigious Gary Drum Major Award for extraordinary set-vice in the 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in offering our condolences to the family of Mr. Mamon Powers, Sr. 
Mamon was a true inspiration to everyone who knew him, and his work in 
Northwest Indiana will survive as a tribute to his memory. He impacted 
the lives of many in our community, our state, and our country, and I 
am proud to have had the opportunity to represent Mamon Powers, Sr. in 
Congress.

                          ____________________