[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16975]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     APPLAUDING HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS IN CELEBRATION OF FATHER'S DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise my fellow 
colleague, Edolphus Towns, for his outstanding career on Capitol Hill 
within the House of Representatives, as well as his continuous role as 
a father. This week, the New York Carib News acknowledged the 
Congressman in ``Edolphus Ed Towns, Father and Lawmaker'' in an article 
on outstanding fathers. The article noted his 30 years as a member of 
Congress and recognized Towns as the proud father of two adult 
children, Darryl, a New York State assembly member and his daughter 
Diedre, a Senior Executive with the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company.
  Mr. Towns, who is a former social worker and community activist, is a 
14-term veteran and currently chairs the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform. Mr. Towns was born on July 21, 1934 in Chadbourn, 
North Carolina and earned his bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T 
State University. He holds a master's degree in social work from 
Adelphi University. Prior to serving in the House, Mr. Towns was a 
teacher in the New York City Public School System, and a professor at 
Fordham University as well as Medgar Evers College. He is also a 
veteran of the United States Army and an ordained Baptist minister.
  Mr. Towns continues to be dedicated and committed to serving his 
constituents within the 10th Congressional District of New York, which 
encompasses a variety of Brooklyn's diverse population. Mr. Towns also 
continues to be an advocate for adequate public health care, as well as 
equal access to quality public education and technology and financial 
security.
  As a father, Mr. Towns strived to instill values in his children, as 
well as being fully invested in teaching them important life lessons by 
assuring the family spent time and had meals together. Mr. Towns 
understood the important role that fathers have in a child's life and 
cherishes the significance of sharing life experiences, which he 
attributes to his children's success in their personal and public 
lives. As an example, Mr. Towns and his son, Darryl, are the first 
African-American father-son team to serve simultaneously in New York 
public office.
  Fatherhood is filled with many joys and challenges, and therefore, I 
applaud Edolphus Towns for his continued commitment to his family as 
well as for his public service. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with 
my colleague and I commend him for his leadership.

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