[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING WILFRED G. GOODEN

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to Wilfred G. Gooden, who passed in January of this year. Wilfred G. 
Gooden was a philanthropist, and certainly someone who loved his 
country, but loved service.
  Born in Jamaica, West Indies in the Westmoreland area, he was a 
naturalized citizen. He came to New York City. In his commitment to 
serving the community, he became a master builder and opened a 
construction company in 1961 where he created jobs for young men and 
women in the Harlem area. He was a master artisan, a carpenter, a 
perfectionist in his work.
  As he became an astute businessperson, he also was concerned about 
affordable housing for many in the New York area. Mayor David Dinkins 
appointed him to have the opportunity to devise a housing program for 
the City of Houston. But yet he continued to do more, and he was a 
great philanthropist, providing clothing and opportunity for the people 
of Jamaica. We pay great tribute to Wilfred Gooden, and we mourn his 
loss.

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