[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21407]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO HAROLD C. EATON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 5, 2003

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Harold C. 
Eaton, a leader in the field of civil rights in both his community and 
the nation as a whole. His tenure as the Mobile District Corps of 
Engineers Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, which was marked with 
numerous accomplishments, has truly earned him the honor of being 
inducted into the Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees.
  Mr. Eaton served his country through Federal service for 44 years, 
beginning with his assignment at Brookley Air Force Base in 1956. 
Following the closing of the base in 1967, Mr. Eaton transferred to the 
Mobile District Personnel Office and was later appointed to the 
position of District Equal Employment Opportunity Officer (EEO) in 
1974.
  The advancements made by Mr. Eaton during his time as EEO Officer 
were nothing short of outstanding. Facing the issue of equal 
opportunity during one of the most tumultuous times in the nation's 
history, Mr. Eaton's career was marked with a number of challenges. The 
most serious of these challenges was the court-ordered Consent Decree, 
a class action lawsuit outlining affirmative action goals for black 
employment in the Mobile District. Mr. Eaton worked diligently and 
effectively to solve the problems faced by the community in the field 
of equal opportunity and was successful in having the Decree lifted in 
1987. Through his work in the community, Mr. Eaton became a recognized 
leader on the local and Federal level in the field of affirmative 
action.
  A second major challenge Mr. Eaton faced during his tenure as EEO 
Officer dealt with private contracting for the Tennessee- Tombigbee 
Waterway project. Through the system Mr. Eaton developed, the Corps was 
able to guarantee equal opportunity for both employment and 
contracting. The idea of private contracting was revolutionary for the 
Corps of Engineers and is a program which is still in use today.
  Mr. Harold Eaton has made many outstanding contributions throughout 
his life to the advancement of equal rights. His devotion and 
innovation resulted in major accomplishments on the local and Federal 
level. It is my honor to recognize the achievements of a man so devoted 
to the causes of equality and justice, both of which we hold so dear in 
our Nation. For his tireless work for the betterment of his community, 
Mr. Eaton truly deserves induction into the Gallery of Distinguished 
Civilian Employees.

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