[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 24]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 32628]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN CELEBRATION OF THE WORK OF RONALD EUGENE KIRK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVID SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker I rise today to honor a dedicated 
member of my staff, Mr. Ronald Kirk, who has dedicated his life to 
government service. Born on November 2, 1944, in New York City to 
William Henry Kirk and Marjorie Smith Kirk, Ronald Eugene Kirk, the 
fourth of five children, was born and raised in Harlem and is a product 
of the New York City Public School system. Ron's passion for community 
involvement and neighborhood empowerment was evident from the start of 
his life. After receiving a bachelor's in business administration from 
Pace University and a master's in business management from Manhattan 
College, Ron began his lifelong involvement in community service.
  Early on, Ron became politically active and cut his teeth with such 
community based organizations as the Community Planning Board #10 in 
Manhattan, the Community Corporation/Harlem Youth in Action, Model 
Cities and several political organizations established in the Harlem 
community. He was twice elected Democratic District Leader in the 70th 
Assembly District of New York. Ron served as foundation director of the 
City University of New York and as a confidential secretary to a New 
York Supreme Court Judge. During his time in New York, Ron received 
numerous accolades and commendations from such notable individuals as 
Representative Charlie Rangel, former Mayor David Dinkins, Former New 
York Secretaries of State Basil Patterson and Percy Sutton. His efforts 
have been recognized by organizations such as the Sickle Cell 
Foundation, the Catholic Youth Organization, and the New York City 
Department for the Aging.
  Upon moving to Atlanta, Ron served as a dedicated host for the 1996 
Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia, and worked for the David Scott for 
Congress campaign in 2002. For the past 8 years he has served admirably 
as my senior Immigration/Department of State Specialist and Constituent 
Services Representative.
  Ron is a dedicated family man, having been married to the lovely Emma 
for 38 years, has two beautiful children, Kwesi and Amina, and three 
wonderful grandsons, Nikai, James and Malachai. Ron is actively 
involved in community outreach and the Red Oak Methodist Church in 
Stockbridge, Georgia.
  It is with a heavy heart that I and my staff say goodbye to Ron as he 
retires from my Congressional staff. I am extremely proud of the 
accomplishments Ron has made throughout his life and for his 
outstanding work in my office. As this chapter of Ron's life closes and 
he begins his new chapter, it is a blessing to know that Ron's ability 
to be a social catalyst touched the lives of many in the 13th District 
of Georgia and the Nation. Ron, I wish you every success for the future 
and thank you for your outstanding work effort, passion for change, and 
your ability to look at the impossible and ask, ``why not?''
  God bless Ron Kirk.

                          ____________________