[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21398-21399]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. ROBERT INGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a 
versatile and committed public servant in my District, the Rev. Dr. 
Robert Ingram. This honor has long been in coming for his service to 
our community in various capacities. Among the roles he has held was 
that of Chief of Police, City Manager and subsequently Mayor of the 
City of Opa-Locka. His current elected position as Vice-Chairman of the 
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest school system in 
the nation with some 370,000 students, is what occupies his waking 
hours as he doggedly tackles the awesome task of balancing the learning 
needs of students amidst the dwindling education dollars that now fund 
our schools.
  In its most recent article entitled: ``Robert Ingram: The Ascension 
of an Ex-Miami Cop,'' the FLAVOUR Black Florida Life & Style Magazine 
succinctly quoted the City of Miami's first Black Police Chief Clarence 
Dickson when he described Dr. Ingram's service record thus: ``. . . his 
life is legend and is about as close to the impossible dream as I have 
witnessed . . . not in my wildest dreams would I have predicted the 
accomplishments, the challenges, the risk, the courage, the sacrifices, 
the victories and the successes this man would achieve though all of 
the evidence was there in those early days.''
  He has spoken clearly on such issues as money, reparations, black-on-
black crime, affordable housing, civil rights, love, equal rights 
amendment, rap music, etc. and all the implications inherent in these 
core issues that now crowd the African-American community's agenda. Dr. 
Ingram exudes the preeminence of a noble gentleman, as well as the 
virtues of a lucid scholar as he is wont to expound during School Board 
meetings his unwavering positions on equal educational opportunities 
for minorities, the controversial incongruence of the Florida 
Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), along with his unconditional 
passion for justice and equal rights for all.
  Ever since I have known Dr. Ingram, he has always been at the 
forefront of ensuring equal participation in the shared duties and 
responsibilities on the part of Miami-Dade County's citizenry. At the 
same time, his forceful advocacy in adhering to the tenets of equal 
treatment under the law not only in the halls of academia, but also in 
every segment of our government agencies has become legendary. In fact, 
countless others have been touched by his genuine commitment, 
especially towards those who could least fend for themselves.
  Dr. Ingram is the consummate public servant and community activist 
who abides by the dictum that those who have less in life through no 
fault of their own should be helped by the government--regardless of 
race or creed, gender or class. The numerous accolades with which he 
has been honored by various organizations and agencies at the local, 
state and national levels attest to an unequivocal testimony of the 
utmost respect he enjoys.
  Blessed with a down-to-earth common sense and yet consecrated by his 
religious calling to serve the ``. . . least of these,'' he is also 
imbued with the rare wisdom of recognizing both the strengths and 
limitations of those empowered by the electorate to govern. This unique 
leadership is being tested to the hilt during School Board meetings as 
he draws attention to the basic purpose of our public schools--that of 
maximizing the learning potential of every student and that the success 
of any school is genuinely measured by how well it is reaching out even 
to those students who are being left behind.
  Dr. Ingram thoroughly understands the accoutrements of power and 
leadership, and he is wisely exercising them alongside the mandate of 
his conviction and the call of his conscience as he engages all their 
energies toward advancing the good of the community he has learned to 
love and care for so deeply. He exudes the kind of genuine faith and 
anchors his hope in the Godgiven abilities of the

[[Page 21399]]

students attending the Miami-Dade County Public Schools when he stated 
that ``. . . I firmly and passionately believe that all our kids have 
what it takes to succeed. The challenge is for us to reach this 
generation by motivating them instead of frustrating them. Children 
often turned off school by simple things because they are sensitive 
beings that we do not always respond to.''
  Dr. Robert Ingram truly exemplifies a unique and responsive 
leadership whose courageous vision and wisdom appeals to our noble 
character as a caring Nation. At the risk of being presumptuous, I 
honor him and I want to extend to him the utmost gratitude of the 
Miami-Dade County community that he and I are privileged to serve.

                          ____________________