[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18028]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING VIRGIL HALL HODGES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 2, 2013

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the generosity and 
vision of Mr. Virgil Hall Hodges. Mr. Hodges is a proud alumnus, member 
of the Board of Trustees, and founding father of the Richard Allen 
Classic Group. The Richard Allen Classic Group is an 11-year-old 
advocacy group of men of consciousness and influence who are committed 
to upholding the social and intellectual mission of our traditional 
institutions and perpetuating their mission to the masses. Richard 
Allen Classic Group members remain staunch supporters of education and 
the quest to close the technological divide that exists in our 
communities
  Mr. Hodges professional career began as a college professor and 
football coach. He was then recruited to become a government agency 
administrator, first as Administrator with New York City's Youth Board, 
then as head of an anti-poverty agency, the Coney Island Family Center. 
From there he went into state government as a Facility Director at Mt. 
Morris and later Arthur Kill Rehabilitation Centers of the NYS Drug 
Abuse Commission. Lastly, to the NY State Department of Labor and 
retired from the NYS Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and Institute 
for Nonviolence.
  Mr. Hodges adopted Morris Brown College, a 132-year-old prestigious 
institution founded by the A.M.E. Church that has produced thousands of 
professionals and masters of the trades and has dedicated countless 
hours to the service of others.
  Mr. Virgil Hall Hodges is the recipient of the Distinguished Service 
Award as Deputy Labor Commissioner by the NYS Legislature; the 
Distinguished Service Morris Brown College President and Faculty Award; 
and the NYS Employees Brotherhood Award; and the NYS NAACP Public 
Service Award.
  I commend Mr. Virgil Hall Hodges for his extraordinary service. His 
vision as an educator and policymaker has inspired both students and 
colleagues alike. On behalf of the more than 718,000 residents of Fifth 
Congressional District, I thank you for your outstanding contribution 
to our communities and nation.

                          ____________________