[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12175-12176]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR ``BUTCH'' NILES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Arthur ``Butch'' Niles. 
Arthur H. Niles was born and raised in Brooklyn's Bedford Stuyvesant 
village, where just about the entire village raised him. ``Butch'' as 
family and friends lovingly know him, was born smack dab in the middle 
of 14 children, parented by Anton and Lillian Niles. He attended P.S. 
44, J.H.S. 35 and Boy's High School. Since he was an outstanding 
athlete, his basketball skills helped him earn the Four Friends' 
scholarships to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia where 
he captained the team his entire 4 years. Mr. Niles graduated from the 
Virginia Union University with Bachelors degree in Sociology as well as 
achieved lifetime membership to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
  After a brief stint in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, 
playing for the Scranton Miners, a minor league team of Boston Celtics, 
``Butch'' return to Bedford Stuyvesant. Along with a few of his 
brothers and the community friends, he organized the original legendary 
``Soul in The Hole'' Basketball tournament. This activity became a 
sports and cultural extravaganza for youth and their families that 
occurs every summer and features African Dancers, drummers, poetry 
readings and great ball games.
  Butch has always had a revolving respect with the people of central 
Brooklyn, especially the youth. He always felt that the power of the 
people could be realized most effectively by fostering a mutually 
trusting relationship with the youth.
  After meeting Lucille Rose in the early 1970s, Arthur is credited for 
organizing the first Bedford Stuyvesant Central Youth Council, Inc. He 
met George Glee and Margo Butts at Vanguard Urban Improvement 
Association Inc., where he was employed as a Coordinator. Arthur worked 
with the young men and Margo worked with the young ladies and together 
they improved the lives of thousands of young people, many of whom went 
on to be accountants, teachers, union leaders and other professionals. 
Mr. Niles is in his 26th year with the agency, during his tenure he has 
placed over 500 youth from Bedford Stuyvesant in primarily Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities, developed a culinary School and 
created the safe Passage for central Brooklyn teens.
  He developed 21 units of affordable housing through the 1661 Macon 
Houses L.P and manages another 105 units in Bedford

[[Page 12176]]

Stuyvesant. Other developments include SUNY Downstate Medical Satellite 
and Interfaith Medical Center. He is a member of Community Board #3 
serving on the By-law's, Land Use and Economic Development committees. 
He is also a member of Bedford Stuyvesant Economic and Physical 
Development task force. For his outstanding devotion to community 
service Butch has received numerous awards over the years like the 
Community Leadership Award from the Borough President, the Continuous 
Service Award from Omega Psi Phi, the Youth Development Award from the 
Mayor's Office, and the Businessman of the year '04 from the Republican 
Congressional Committee.
  Arthur and his wife Margo have two grown children. His hobbies 
include travel, collecting jazz, playing golf and tennis and of course 
watching basketball. Mr. Speaker, Arthur ``Butch'' Niles has 
continuously worked towards improving the lives of the youth of the 
community as well as his commitment and generosity in helping others 
has made him more than worthy of our recognition today.

                          ____________________