[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24865]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MR. VIRGIL E. BROWN, SR.

 Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I wish to honor and congratulate 
an outstanding community and business leader from my hometown of 
Cleveland, OH. Virgil E. Brown, Sr., has become a well-recognized name 
in Cleveland after serving our community and great State of Ohio for 
nearly three decades. On August 12, 2007, Virgil celebrated his 90th 
birthday. Also this year, his lovely wife Lurtissia celebrated her 87th 
birthday, and together they celebrated an amazing 68 years of marriage. 
What an accomplishment.
  Virgil grew up in humble beginnings. He was born in Louisville, KY, 
to George and Sarah Brown. He is the eldest of six children. He moved 
to Cleveland with his parents and siblings when he was 12 years old. He 
graduated from Central High School in Cleveland in 1937 and attended 
Fenn College, now Cleveland State University.
  Throughout Virgil's long and distinguished career of public service, 
he has made history and opened many doors through a number of 
``firsts'' he attained. He served as the first African-American to be 
the director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections; the first 
African-American to be elected as a Cuyahoga County commissioner; and 
the first African-American to serve as director of the Ohio Lottery 
Commission.
  His political career started in 1966 with an unsuccessful bid for a 
State representative position. He rebounded quickly, however, and in 
1967 he won a seat on the Cleveland City Council, where he served for 
three terms. In 1972, when there was a breakdown in the countywide 
election system and the position of director of the Cuyahoga County 
Board of Elections became available, Virgil resigned his city council 
seat to accept an appointment as director of the Board of Elections. He 
served nearly 7 years in this position, and during his tenure he 
restored the integrity and efficiency of the election process.
  When I left the position of Cuyahoga County commissioner to serve as 
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 1979, Virgil was appointed as my 
replacement. He was reelected and served three additional terms. While 
in his last term as commissioner, I was serving as Governor, and I 
asked Virgil if he would serve as the director of the Ohio State 
Lottery. Virgil graciously accepted, even though he was planning to 
retire. I appointed him in 1991, and he remained as director until 
1995, when he officially retired at the age of 74.
  Virgil has had many notable achievements throughout his life. In 
1976, he delivered the nominating speech for President Gerald Ford at 
the Republican National Convention. He was honored by the Cuyahoga 
County Board of Commissioners when they named their human services 
building the Virgil E. Brown Center. In 2002, he was inducted by the 
Cuyahoga County Republicans into the inaugural class of the James A. 
Garfield Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Glenville Hall of 
Fame, the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, and the National Forum for 
Black Public Administrators'--Cleveland chapter--Hall of Fame. He is 
also a past president of the National Bowling Association.
  Virgil has served the greater Cleveland community and the State of 
Ohio with distinction. Whether it was through his political career, his 
mentorship of numerous young adults, his tenure on the board of 
directors for various community based organizations and commissions, 
through his home church, Bethany Baptist Church, or through his 
successful insurance company, Virgil Brown has touched and improved the 
lives of many.
  Throughout all of his accomplishments, his loving and supportive wife 
Lurtissia has been by his side. Without a doubt, she has been his 
greatest blessing. Together they have two children, Veretta Garrison, 
who is a businesswoman in Connecticut, and Virgil, Jr., who is an 
attorney in Cleveland and also a member of the State Board of 
Education.
  Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Virgil E. 
Brown, Sr., for his exceptional leadership and for serving as a stellar 
role model. Congratulations, Virgil, on all you have and will continue 
to achieve. Our lives are better as a result of having been touched by 
you. May God continue to bless you and your family.

                          ____________________