[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16113]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ROBBIE ``GRAN'' JUANITA SEPOLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2008

  Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to celebrate 
the wonderful and full life of Robbie ``Gran'' Juanita Sepolen.
  In her 105 years on this Earth, Gran was a daughter, a wife, a 
mother, a foster parent, a student, a teacher, an activist, 
grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and even a 
great-great-great-grandmother, and most importantly, she was a devoted 
Christian. Her accomplishments are innumerable and the lives that she 
touched along the way are countless.
  Growing up in Brownwood, Texas, Gran was part of the first graduating 
class from Brownwood Colored High School in 1918, later named the Rufus 
F. Hardin High School. After college, during a time of great bigotry 
against the African American race, Gran overcame those boundaries and 
shared her love of learning with others as a teacher and librarian in 
the Brownwood School District.
  A true public servant, Gran used her rights as a voting citizen to 
help others find their voice by helping them register to vote. She was 
active in the senior citizen ministry as well, sharing her love of the 
arts in senior citizen centers throughout the county.
  Gran never tired of meeting new people or learning new things, 
participating in numerous cultural events, and was even crowned the 
2001 Cowboy of Color Rodeo Queen in Houston, Texas.
  While we mourn the loss of such a unique and wonderful woman, we must 
also celebrate a life well lived and move forward knowing that Gran 
left footprints on the hearts of all that crossed her path.
  It is my honor to not only have represented Gran here in Congress, 
but also to continue to represent all those she inspired during her 
long life; they are Gran's legacy to Texas.

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