[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1230]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF DR. CARMELITA A. THOMAS, PRESIDENT OF TRI-C 
                                  WEST

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
Dr. Carmelita Thomas, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and 
friend. Dr. Thomas leaves behind a remarkable legacy of leadership, 
accomplishment and activism on behalf of higher education and 
throughout our Cleveland community.
  Dr. Thomas was born and raised in northern Italy. Her family 
emigrated to Cleveland when she was a high school senior, yet she 
quickly overcame the challenges of a new culture and language and 
graduated with her class from Warrensville Heights High School. With a 
steady focus on academic achievement, Dr. Thomas earned several 
bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees from the University of 
California at Los Angeles. After many years in leadership roles at the 
Los Angeles Community College District, Dr. Thomas brought her passion, 
knowledge, expertise and energy to Cleveland, where she served as the 
President of Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus, where 12,000 
students enroll each semester. Dr. Thomas was respected and admired by 
colleagues and leaders in both the public and private sectors. Her 
unwavering focus on improving the College is reflected throughout the 
Campus. Because of her direction, Tri-C's Western Campus is now a 
training center for digital technology for visual communication and 
also includes cutting-edge medical technology used to train health care 
professionals, such as electroneuro technology and diagnostic 
sonography.
  Dr. Thomas' commitment to others extended beyond the campus of Tri-C. 
Her boundless energy and commitment to making a positive difference is 
evidenced within her activism and volunteer service on many local 
boards and organizations, including her service as a member of the 
Board of Trustees at St. John Westshore Hospital; the Parma Area 
Chamber of Commerce; the American Council on Education; and the 
American Council for International and Intercultural Educational 
Organizations. Dr. Thomas' personal interests mirrored the passion and 
energy she committed to her profession, and ranged in scope from 
travel, to cooking, to the classical arts.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance 
of Dr. Carmelita A. Thomas. I offer my deepest condolences to her 
husband of 45 years, James E. Thomas; to her daughters, Sondra and 
Sonia; to her sons-in-law, Timothy and Jim; to her grandsons, Jeremy 
and Bradley; to her brothers and sisters; and to her extended family 
members and many friends. Her numerous accomplishments, marked by 
personal and professional integrity, served to make a positive 
difference in all areas of higher education throughout the Western 
Campus of Tri-C and throughout our entire community, and she will be 
remembered always.

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