[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26694]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             A TRIBUTE TO DR WALDABA H. STEWART, JR., PH.D.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 29, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. Waldaba H. Stewart, 
Jr. for his commitment to public service and active involvement in New 
York's civic affairs for more than 40 years.
  While Dr. Waldaba H. Stewart, Jr. is a native of Panama, he has been 
a vital asset to the Brooklyn community for more than four decades. 
Starting with the Unity Democratic Club in 1960, he worked as an 
Election District Captain and Campaign Manager for the late Thomas R. 
Fortune, Executive Member. Dr. Stewart was a diligent member of the 
Unity Democratic Club advising and supporting in all political 
elections.
  In 1968, he began his own political career as a successful candidate 
for State Senate, where he served for four years. From 1968-1969, he 
served as Statewide Chairman of the NAACP Political Action and Voter 
Registration Committee. He was also one of the founding members of the 
Board of Directors of the Commerce, Labor, and County of Kings 
Corporation that converted the Brooklyn Navy Yard into an industrial 
park. Additionally, Dr. Stewart was a member of the New York State 
Governor Mario Cuomo's Advisory Committee on Black Affairs and a New 
York State delegate to President Jimmy Carter's White House Conference 
on Small Business.
  Dr. Stewart has been very active in ensuring a strong future for 
Kings County Hospital. From 1984-1990, Dr. Stewart served as 
chairperson of the Community Advisory Board of Kings County Hospital 
and a member of the Medical Board. In 1984, he began a campaign for the 
rebuilding and modernization of Kings County Hospital, resulting in the 
current rebuilding program of more than $100 million, which was 
completed in 2002. In the community, Dr. Stewart has also served as the 
Chairperson of the Program Development Committee of the Community 
Advisory Board from 1980-1984, and 1991-1998.
  Currently, Dr. Stewart is the director of the Southern Diaspora 
Research and Development Center (SDRDC), which is a non-governmental 
organization. The executive members, officers and all of the members of 
Unity Democratic Club salute Dr. Waldaba Stewart for his enduring and 
strong support.
  Mr. Speaker, in a short time, Dr. Waldaba H. Stewart, Jr. has been a 
dedicated public servant for more than 40 years, demonstrating a real 
commitment to the community. As such, he is more than worthy of 
receiving our recognition. I hope that all of my colleagues will join 
me in honoring this truly remarkable individual.

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