[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12739]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIS EDWARDS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Bass) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BASS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
of a friend and a remarkable individual from Los Angeles, Willis 
Edwards.
  For the past 40 years, Mr. Edwards tirelessly advocated for civil and 
political rights and worked to ensure that positive images of African 
Americans were seen by the American public.
  Throughout his life, Willis Edwards was known for his strength of 
conviction and passion for the promotion of the African American 
community. After working for the Robert Kennedy Presidential campaign 
in college and earning a Bronze Star in the U.S. Army during the 
Vietnam war, Edwards helped to elect the first African American mayor 
of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and served as the youngest-ever city 
commissioner on his Social Services Commission.
  Mr. Edwards continued his career of service as the director of black 
student services at the University of Southern California, where he 
helped future generations of students discover their passion.
  In 1982, Mr. Edwards was elected president of the Beverly Hills-
Hollywood branch of the NAACP. Under his leadership, the branch fought 
to improve the image and gain more jobs for African Americans in front 
of and behind the scenes in Hollywood. As president in 1986, he helped 
to nationally televise the NAACP Image Awards, which continues today as 
a highly regarded entertainment event.
  Mr. Edwards never shied away from controversial subjects or issues. 
After his diagnosis with AIDS, he used his position on the national 
board of the NAACP to publicly discuss the impact of HIV/AIDS in the 
African American community, and he organized the NAACP's participation 
in World AIDS Day. Despite his health challenges, Mr. Edwards continued 
to support his friends and communities.
  Until Rosa Parks's death in 2002, Mr. Edwards was a friend and 
confidant of the civil rights legend. He helped to promote her legacy 
by escorting her to the 1998 Oscar ceremony and worked alongside former 
Congresswoman Julia Carson for Parks to receive the Congressional Medal 
of Honor. Upon her death, Edwards arranged for her to lie in state here 
in the Capitol rotunda.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have called Willis Edwards a friend and a 
mentor. He has left an indelible mark on Los Angeles, and his 
dedication to California and national politics will never be forgotten. 
It is a great honor to recognize his life here on the floor today. His 
spirit and vision will truly be missed.

                          ____________________