[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12189]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          PAYING TRIBUTE TO REV. DR. NELSON ``FUZZY'' THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2005

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Reverend 
Doctor Nelson ``Fuzzy'' Thompson, a minister, humanitarian and a 
political activist whose legacy continues to enrich the lives of all 
Kansas Citians. After 14 years of service, on June 5, 2005, Rev. 
Thompson retired from his pastoral helm at Mason Memorial United 
Methodist Church, which is the cause of recognition and celebration of 
the dedication that he exudes in all aspects of service to the Kansas 
City community.
  Rev. Thompson's reputation as a community leader extends beyond the 
local or national level, but is inclusive of the international 
community. He was one of 22 U.S. ministers that traveled to South 
Africa on a fact finding educational exchange, at the request of Bishop 
Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, and the South African Council of 
Churches. ``Fuzzy,'' as he is affectionately known, was one of three 
U.S. ministers to conduct Easter services for U.S. hostages held in 
Tehran, Iran in 1980. He was also one of 17 U.S. ministers and 
activists who served as official observers for the first election ever 
held in South Africa that allowed the right to vote to all races. He 
said it was a humbling experience seeing people lining up the night 
before and standing in line for blocks in order to exercise their right 
to vote for the first time.
  Since 1984, Rev. Thompson has been a delegate to the Democratic 
National Convention. He served as regional coordinator of Rev. Jesse 
Jackson's 1984 Presidential campaign and as the Missouri State 
Coordinator of the Jackson Campaign in 1988. ``Fuzzy'' is currently 
president of the Kansas City Chapter of the Southern Christian 
Leadership Conference.
  He has served on the boards of Freedom Incorporated as Chairman of 
the Nominating Committee, Black Adoption Program and Services, Human 
Rights Commission of Kansas City, Missouri, and Northwest Political 
Faction. He has been involved in helping to solve the problems of young 
adults, especially in the areas of education and unemployment. He held 
the position of executive director of the Martin Luther King Urban 
Center for 30 years.
  Rev. Thompson graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, 
Missouri with a bachelor of science in education, and received a master 
of divinity and doctor of ministry at St. Paul School of Theology. He 
has been married 39 years to Cheryl (Love) Thompson. His mother, Marvia 
Thompson, was a founding member of the St. James United Methodist which 
I pastor. In 2003, we joined Rev. Thompson to celebrate and mourn her 
death and life. He baptized my youngest son, Evan, and he has been a 
friend and a confidant to me for more than 30 years.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to 
the Rev. Nelson ``Fuzzy'' Thompson for his relentless efforts in 
extending service not only within the areas surrounding Kansas City, 
Missouri and the United States, but for his contributions to the global 
community. I urge my colleagues to please join me in congratulating 
``Fuzzy'' on his retirement as Pastor of Mason Memorial United 
Methodist Church, for we know that he has not retired from the ministry 
nor from the community, because God's work is never done.

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