[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16440]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE REV. THOMAS E. GILMORE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 29, 2013

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Rev. Thomas E. Gilmore, a 
Civil Rights icon and Alabama treasure who was the first black sheriff 
elected to serve in Greene County, Alabama. Recently, the courthouse 
square in Greene County was named in honor of this American hero and I 
am honored to join with my home State in saluting the numerous 
contributions of this American hero.
  Rev. Gilmore was born on May 1, 1941 in Forkland, Alabama to Beatrice 
O'Neal and a loving grandmother, Clara Gilmore. Throughout his 
lifetime, Rev. Gilmore has often credited his journey of greatness to 
the unyielding love of both of these extraordinary women. Today, he 
reflects on the passion, wisdom and courage they instilled in him that 
served as cornerstones for his desire to make a difference.
  Gilmore attended Greene County public schools and later enrolled in 
Selma University in 1959. Shortly after, he married his childhood 
sweetheart, the late Minnie Gilmore, whom Rev. Gilmore also credited 
for being a source of great strength throughout their 35-year 
partnership. The young couple left Alabama briefly for a move to Los 
Angeles, but the native son made the decision to return home in 1963.
  Gilmore returned home to an Alabama that was plagued by the perils of 
racism and injustice. And one evening, as Gilmore was headed to a local 
gas station to purchase milk for his young son, he fell victim to a 
painful reminder of the racial turbulence in Greene County. As he 
drove, Gilmore unknowingly ran into a puddle of water and splashed a 
white state trooper. Assuming that Gilmore was a civil rights worker, 
the trooper retaliated by pushing Gilmore against a gas pump and 
forcing him to wash his car. At that moment, the young minister was led 
to make a difference and he was inspired to find ways to end police 
brutality.
  Gilmore became active in the local civil rights movement and mass 
meetings and was later recruited by the Rev. James Orange to work for 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership 
Conference. Under Dr. King's leadership, Gilmore helped to organize and 
lead voter registration drives.
  The impetus for Gilmore's run for sheriff stems from his efforts in 
attempting to file a complaint against a local officer that assaulted a 
young black woman. During his attempt, the Greene County Sheriff 
savagely beat Gilmore in the district attorney's office. Shortly after 
the incident, Gilmore and other local civil rights leaders constructed 
the idea that he should run for sheriff to combat the violence that was 
brewing in Greene County, Selma and surrounding areas.
  At the age of 24, this young warrior launched his first campaign for 
sheriff in 1966. Today, he describes his candidacy as ``unheard of.'' 
While he was unsuccessful on his first attempt, he was elected four 
years later. He served as Sheriff of Greene County from 1971-1983. When 
asked what it was like to be a trailblazer, this humble servant simply 
replied ``I thought about being the best sheriff I could be . . . I 
thought about walking tall.''
  During his influential tenure, Gilmore became known as ``The Sheriff 
Without A Gun.'' Led by the nonviolent teachings he learned during his 
time as a civil rights activist, Gilmore endeavored to govern through 
the use of non-violence. Gilmore retired as Sheriff in 1983 and 
relocated to Birmingham to serve as Pastor of First Baptist Church in 
Ensley, AL. Today Rev. Gilmore remains a dedicated Pastor, leader, and 
servant.
  Rev. Gilmore's many accomplishments are an inspiration to us all. He 
is truly an Alabama treasure and an American hero worthy of 
recognition. On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of 
Alabama and this nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
life and legacy of Rev. Thomas E. Gilmore.

                          ____________________