[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3595-3596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. GWENDOLYN LOUISE McCORD HANKERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and legacy of Dr. Gwendolyn Louise McCord Hankerson, who sadly passed 
away on February 13, 2014.
  Born in White Springs, Florida to the late William Quinton McCord and 
the late Allie Mae King McCord, Gwen dedicated her life to giving back 
to her community. A graduate of Dillard High School's Class of 1949, 
she went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Education from North 
Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina in 1953.
  Gwen taught third grade at Carver Ranches Elementary School and later 
became the first principal of Dillard High Community School. In 
addition, she worked at numerous schools throughout the county, such as 
Lauderdale Manors, Nova Blanche Forman, and Norfolk Elementary.
  After retiring from Broward County Public Schools in the mid 1980s, 
she taught at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary in the Dade County School 
System. Building on her teaching career, she received her Master's 
Degree in Education from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca 
Raton, Florida, as well as a Doctorate in Social Psychology and 
Physiology from Eastern Pennsylvania University.

[[Page 3596]]

  Gwen made many significant contributions to her community through her 
passion for education. As a pioneer change agent, she was ``the first'' 
many times over in the political realm. Gwen was the first African 
American appointed to the Judicial Selection Board by Governor Lawton 
Chiles, the first African American appointed to the Personnel Advisory 
Board by Commissioner John Hart, the first African American female to 
run for office in the City of Lauderdale Lakes, the first female 
swimming coach for Dillard High School, and the first principal of 
Dillard High Community School.
  When Gwen retired, she continued to be a staunch educational 
advocate. She was one of the founding members and one of the original 
incorporators of the Sistrunk Historical Festival and the Lalee Terrace 
Rebuild Foundation. Furthermore, Gwen founded the Broward Branch of the 
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
  She initiated the Elders Council of the African American Research 
Library and Cultural Center to gather stories about African American 
pioneers of Broward County for her book entitled, Across the Tracks. 
Additionally, Gwen was a board member for the Literacy Coalition of 
Broward County, chairperson of the Lauderdale Lakes School Advisory 
Board, Vice President of the Northwest Democratic Executive Board, 
Treasurer of the Pride of Fort Lauderdale Elks Lodge, Temple #395, a 
member of the Order of Eastern Stars, an advisor to the Dillard High 
School Alumni & Friends Association, Inc., and a member of the Planning 
and Zoning Board for Broward County.
  Gwen was the recipient of numerous awards and honors. In 2011, she 
received the Rosa Parks Award and the Mildred Hastings Tenacity Award, 
which was named in honor of my late mother.
  A long-time member and officer of Mount Hermon AME Church, Gwen had 
the very first wedding there on June 11, 1954. She was happily married 
to Tommie Lee for almost 60 years. She is survived by her husband; four 
adult children, Charles Holiday, Sr., Kenneth Hankerson, Sr., 
Evangelist Allison Hankerson-Harris, and Attorney Terri Lynn Hankerson; 
11 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, the Hankerson family and friends, our nation, Florida, 
and Broward County have lost a remarkable person who made life better 
for humankind.

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