[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4890]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO IRVIN WHITTAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2003

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, in commemoration of Black 
History Month, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the 
many accomplishments of distinguished African-Americans in 
Mississippi's Second Congressional District.
  Irvin Whittaker is a native of Carrollton County. Although many close 
to Mr. Whittaker felt that education should not be his primary focus, 
he had a strong desire to complete high school. With money that he 
saved from sharecropping, Mr. Whittaker moved to Jackson, Mississippi. 
It was here that he decided to enter Lanier High School. During High 
School, Mr. Whittaker became part of the active reserves and spent six 
months in the Army. In 1959, he re-entered high school at Marshall High 
School where he started to play basketball. While playing he was 
noticed by a coach and was offered a scholarship to Mississippi 
Industrial College.
  Upon graduating, Mr. Whittaker's professional career in education 
began. In 1963, he was appointed as a teacher at Old Salem High School 
in Ashland, Mississippi. Mr. Whittaker was then appointed as principal 
of Marshal High School where he served until 1968. In 1968, Mr. 
Whittaker became assistant principal at Amanda Elzy High School. After 
serving for two years, Mr. Whittaker later became the principal. In 
1983, he was asked by the Superintendent of Leflore County Schools to 
serve as Assistant Superintendent. In 1991, Mr. Whittaker was elected 
to the office of the County Superintendent, an office which he held 
until his retirement in 2000.

                          ____________________