[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF REVEREND DR. E. THEOPHILUS CAVINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 14, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Reverend Dr. E. 
Theophilus Caviness, the pastor of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church for 
50 years. Rev. Dr. Caviness is being honored by the City of Cleveland 
as it dedicates Tacoma Avenue from East 105th Street to Parkwood Drive 
as ``Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness Way.''
  Born and raised in Marshall, Texas, Rev. Dr. Caviness became aware 
and involved in the fight against discrimination of the African 
American population at an early age. He attended Bishop College in 
Dallas, Texas and Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, 
Missouri. Before coming to the City of Cleveland, Rev. Dr. Caviness 
served as the pastor of St. Mark's Baptist Church in Picton, Texas, 
Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Madison, Illinois and St. Paul Baptist 
Church in East St. Louis, Missouri. He used his position as a minister 
and lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People (NAACP) to bring people together to create change during 
the Civil Rights movement.
  In 1961, Rev. Dr. Caviness moved to Cleveland and became the pastor 
of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church. He immediately became involved in 
Cleveland's Civil Rights movement. In conjunction with his pastoral 
duties, Rev. Dr. Caviness has served on Cleveland's Zoning Board of 
Appeals, Planning Board of the Glenville Area Council and Sewer Board 
of Cleveland. Additionally, he served as a Councilman in Cleveland City 
Council from 1974 to 1980, worked as the executive assistant to former 
Mayor George Voinovich and served two terms as chair of the Ohio Civil 
Rights Commission. Rev. Dr. Caviness continues his advocacy work as 
President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Cleveland 
Chapter, board chair of Community Covenant Oversight Team for the 
``Closing the Gap'' Initiative, and is currently working with Rev. Al 
Sharpton and the National Action Network.
  Because of his dedication and longtime service to the fight against 
racism, Rev. Dr. Caviness has received an honorary doctorate of 
divinity degree from Lynchburgh Virginia Seminary and an honorary 
doctorate of law degree from Central State University. He will also be 
inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame on January 6, 
2012.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring Rev. Dr. E. 
Theophilus Caviness as the City of Cleveland celebrates his tireless 
work in the Greater Cleveland community and as a leader in the 
continuing Civil Rights movement.

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