[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     ON THE LIFE AND SUDDEN DEATH OF HONORABLE ARTHUR E. TEELE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 
constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida, I stand 
today with a heavy heart following the sudden and tragic death of Mr. 
Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
  On Wednesday, July 27, 2005 the State of Florida, this Nation, and I 
lost a great friend, patriot, and champion for the less fortunate. His 
death marks the end of a great career as a statesman, political leader, 
visionary, decorated veteran, attorney, newspaper publisher and family 
man.
  Arthur Teele was an imposing figure, astute and sharp of mind and 
wit. He was as diverse as he was intuitive in matters of people, 
politics and the driving forces behind change. Here was a man as 
complex in his thinking, as he was simple in his focus on bettering the 
lives of so many. He ably balanced political acumen with the ability to 
traverse and bridge party and ideological lines, bringing a voice to 
the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, and instilling a fighting spirit 
in those who felt lifeless and forgotten.
  Arthur Teele was a skilled and brilliant strategist, who knew not 
only the pulse but felt the heart beat of his constituency; moreover, 
he moved deftly and with passion through all political and social 
ranks, regardless of political affiliations, to bring to many 
communities much needed services. As head of the U.S. Urban Mass 
Transportation Administration, he built bridges of influence that 
brought transportation, jobs, and much needed services to depressed 
minority communities and the urban core. He stood tall and strong as a 
champion of enterprise, and as an advocate for changing the social, 
economic, and political fabric of communities across Florida, and 
indeed the Nation.
  Arthur Teele, was the consummate man against the odds, taking on the 
fight for social and economic parity. He made us feel we were important 
and necessary partners in the fight to make this region, this State, 
and this Nation honor its promises to all citizens.
  His legacy may well be written from varying viewpoints, yet I remind 
you that in all things, the good that men and women do, will in the 
eyes of those who really care, outlive and outshine all the other 
utterances.

                          ____________________