[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 TRIBUTE TO DR. OSWALD P. BRONSON, SR.

 Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I want to pay tribute to 
an outstanding leader, administrator and advisor, Dr. Oswald Bronson, 
the retiring president of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL.
  Dr. Bronson's list of accomplishments, honors and contributions are 
long and distinguished. Because of Dr. Bronson, Bethune-Cookman has 
earned a national reputation for excellence in liberal arts education. 
In his 29 years at Bethune-Cookman, he doubled the enrollment, boosted 
its endowment from $1.2 million to $25 million, increased its economic 
impact on the community to $300 million and raised its operating budget 
to $45 million.
  A recognized ``key power broker'' for the Nation's black colleges by 
Black Issues in Higher Education, Dr. Bronson advised President Clinton 
on higher education issues and served as chairman and president of 
several national, influential educational organizations, including the 
United Negro College Fund, the National Association for Equal 
Opportunity in Education and most recently the National Association of 
Independent Colleges and Universities.
  And not only is Dr. Bronson a respected voice on higher education 
issues, but also a leading religious figure. He served as President of 
the Interdenominational Theological Seminary and President of the 
United Methodist Church Council of Presidents. As a pastor in three 
States, Dr. Bronson lectured and taught in numerous mission schools, 
pastoral institutes and leadership training seminars.
  For his dedicated service and distinguished career, Dr. Bronson 
earned many honors including an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree, and 
honorary Doctor of Laws degree and keys to several cities in Florida.
  I am honored to call Dr. Bronson a friend and thank him for his 
remarkable tenure at Bethune-Cookman College and extraordinary 
contribution to our country. He will be missed, but I know he will 
continue to make a contribution.

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