[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13771]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. WILLIAM ASTOR KIRK, SR., EDUCATOR AND SOCIAL 
                                ACTIVIST

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Dr. William Astor Kirk, Sr., educator, social activist and author. Dr. 
William Astor Kirk, Sr., was the eldest of six children born to Alex 
and Exella Kirk in Harleton, Texas. He briefly attended Wiley College 
in Marshall, Texas before enrolling in Howard University in Washington, 
DC where he received both a bachelor's and master's degree, 
respectively.
  Dr. Kirk led a life devoted to family, faith and intellectual 
pursuits and fought to bring about social justice and equality for 
African Americans in public facilities and accommodations in 
educational institutions. Dr. Kirk and his wife of more than sixty 
years, Vivian Tramble married in 1946 and had two children. The Kirk's 
core values centered on faith and family and intellectual curiosity and 
social responsibility--beliefs Dr. Kirk graciously shared with family 
and friends.
  Upon completing his Master's degree in Government from Howard 
University in 1974, Dr. Kirk and wife Vivian relocated to Austin, Texas 
where he assumed the position of professor of Government and Economics 
at Huston-Tillotson College. Dr. Kirk, active in Austin civic life was 
an organizer in the local chapter of the NAACP and arranged peaceful 
protests that led to desegregation of the Austin Public Library and 
many other public facilities. Dr. Kirk's work against discrimination 
also focused on the University of Texas where he applied and was 
admitted to a PhD Program. Dr. Kirk's refusal to study in segregated 
classes prompted a lawsuit by the Austin chapter of the NAACP. 
Subsequently, Kirk began his studies at the University after a United 
States Supreme Court ruling of Sweatt v. Painter, which ended 
segregation of the University's school was applied to its graduate 
program as well. In 1958, W. Astor Kirk, Sr. became the first African 
American to earn and receive a Doctorate in Political Science from the 
University of Texas.
  Dr. Kirk was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and studied at the 
London School of Economics and Political Science in London, England. 
Professionally, in addition to his teaching post at Huston-Tillotson, 
Dr. Kirk was adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland 
and had teaching assignments at Rutgers University, Boston University 
School of Theology and Howard University.
  Dr. Kirk also had a distinguished career as a federal government 
executive and management consultant. In 1968, Dr. Kirk was personally 
recruited by President Lyndon B. Johnson for the post of Deputy 
Regional Director (Southwest Region) of the United States Office of 
Economic Opportunity. He continued his government service under the 
Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations. Following his 
retirement from the federal civil service, Dr. Kirk founded and was CEO 
of Organization Management Services Corporation, an organizational 
development firm.
  Prior to his passing, Dr. Kirk initiated an anti-discrimination mass 
petition in an effort with the Church to end, in his words, ``the 
mandatory negative differential treatment of gays, lesbians and 
bisexuals United Methodists.''
  Dr. Kirk's lifetime of contributions to education, racial and gender 
equality and broad civil rights issues inspires all, as he was not 
afraid to tackle the biggest, most looming issues of his day.
  Again, I ask that my colleagues please join me in saluting the life 
and legacy of educator, humanitarian and social activist, Dr. William 
Astor Kirk, Sr.

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