[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LEON G. KERRY, CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 
    COMMISSIONER, ON HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN THE PROMOTION OF 
                          COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. RANDY FORBES

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 2004

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Leon G. 
Kerry, Commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association 
(CIAA), on his tremendous leadership as head of the nation's oldest 
African-American college athletic conference.
  Mr. Kerry, a resident of Chesapeake, Virginia, is now in his 
fourteenth year as Commissioner of the CIAA. In that time he has 
brought the conference from a largely regional entity to a hugely 
popular and highly respected athletic organization with national 
appeal.
  After graduating from Norfolk State University with a degree in 
Business Administration, Mr. Kerry served proudly in the United States 
Army and Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Captain.
  Upon completion of his military service, Mr. Kerry rose through the 
ranks of corporate banking serving as vice president of Sovran Bank.
  Mr. Kerry implemented his extensive banking experience as a part-time 
volunteer with the CIAA, where he restructured the conference's 
financial organization. Within six months Kerry had left banking behind 
and became the CIAA business manager.
  With a penchant for numbers and a natural business sense, Mr. Kerry 
became an obvious choice for the position of interim commissioner of 
the CIAA, a position he took in May of 1989. He later became full-time 
commissioner in February 1990.
  Under Kerry's guidance the CIAA has blossomed and become a leader in 
athletic competition. Through unwavering support of the conference and 
its athletes, Mr. Kerry has led unprecedented fundraising efforts to 
develop the CIAA and increase its accessibility for both student 
athletes and sport enthusiasts alike.
  Quickly becoming one of the nation's premier collegiate competitions, 
the CIAA basketball tournament is among the region's most highly 
anticipated annual sporting events. As Commissioner, Mr. Kerry has 
overseen the growth of the tournament rise from a spectator base of 
about 10,000 to its current attendance of over 80,000. The tournament 
now enjoys nationwide television coverage and vast corporate 
sponsorship.
  Because of Mr. Kerry's resounding success, he is now the longest-
tenured commissioner of a historically black college or university 
athletic conference. Mr. Kerry continues to advocate education as well 
as athletics and the students of the CIAA have benefited immensely from 
his leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Commissioner Leon Kerry for 
his leadership in collegiate athletics, his commitment to student 
athletes and the many contributions he has made to his community.

                          ____________________