[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 18522]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 THE PASSING OF EDUCATOR EUGENE GILMER

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise to extend condolences to the 
family and friends of the late Eugene Gilmer. Although many of you did 
not know Mr. Gilmer personally, he was a longstanding member of the 
Detroit education and political community, and his life touched many.
  Eugene Gilmer's distinguished career started overseas, where he 
served as a member of the United States Army during World War II, part 
of which was in Okinawa. Following the war, he earned a Bachelor's 
degree in political science from Xavier University of Louisiana. He 
then moved to Detroit where he earned a Master's degree in education 
from Wayne State University.
  After earning his Master's degree, he gained his first job as a 
teacher at Sampson Elementary School where, 6 years later, he was 
promoted to the position of assistant principal. He later became 
principal of Fitzgerald Elementary School, where he is credited for 
making significant strides in improving the educational quality of that 
formerly troubled school. He went on to become superintendent of 
personnel for the Detroit Public Schools. When he retired from that 
position in 1985, he concluded his tenure of 35 years in the Detroit 
education system.
  In his spare time, Eugene Gilmer served as the first African-American 
chairman of the Fisher Branch YMCA, and he was active in the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National 
Alliance of Black School Educators, the Palmer Park Police Community 
Relations Committee and Kappa Alpha Psi, his social fraternity. He 
became known in the Detroit community for his involvement with the 
development of the International Afro-American Museum, a precursor to 
the current Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. He 
served as chairman of the board of directors of the museum when it was 
dedicated in 1993.
  Eugene Gilmer provided lasting contributions to the City of Detroit, 
and his death will be mourned. I invite my Senate colleagues to join me 
in remembering the life of this commendable citizen.

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