[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17406]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO REVEREND DR. CAESAR ARTHUR WALTER CLARK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
pay tribute to Reverend Dr. Caesar Arthur Walter Clark, a remarkable 
and compassionate leader whose legacy has touched so many North Texans. 
Reverend Clarke passed on July 27, 2008. His is a deep loss felt by his 
family, his church congregation, the North Texas community, the State 
of Texas, and most assuredly, our nation. Reverend Clarke will long be 
remembered for his social activism and advocacy on behalf of those 
individuals suffering from poverty, homelessness, and injustice. He 
fought for the common person and his influence was far reaching, both 
inside and outside the African American community.
  Reverend Clark was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and attended the 
public schools in his native state. He was converted to Christianity in 
1928 at age 14. Pastor Clark began preaching in April 1929, and was 
ordained four years later in 1933. His first pastorate at age 19 was 
the Israelite Baptist Church in Longstreet, Louisiana.
  Dr. Clark has served as the venerated pastor of Good Street Baptist 
Church in Dallas for over 58 years. He has delivered his vibrant 
sermons all over the world during his extraordinary career in the 
clergy. In addition, he has served as president of the Missionary 
Baptist Association of Texas and as vice president of the National 
Baptist Convention.
  While his professional focus has always been squarely on the valued 
worshippers at Good Street Baptist, Dr. Clark is also an involved 
community leader who continues to enjoy membership on the Boy Scouts of 
America Advisory Committee and the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce. In 
addition, Dr. Clark played an active role in our Nation's civil rights 
struggle. Perhaps most notably he was responsible for drawing Dr. 
Martin Luther King to his church in 1958 for his first of many speeches 
in Dallas.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Caesar A.W. Clark's life is one of dedicated 
service, compassion, faith and devotion. For all these reasons, please 
join me in expressing our heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Carolyn 
Elaine Clark; his son, Dr. Caesar Arthur Walter Clark, Jr.; daughter-
in-law, Dr. Slyvia Clark; granddaughter, Chelsi Om'Nira Clark; step 
daughter, Tonya Bunche; step son, Maurice Bunche and his many relatives 
and friends.
  I urge my colleagues to please join me in conveying our gratitude to 
his family for sharing this great man with us, and to accept our 
condolences for their tremendous loss. He was an inspiration to us all.

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