[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13865]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO DONALD SYKES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2017

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend 
Donald ``Don'' Sykes. He was a sociologist and civil rights champion. 
He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on August 13, 2017. 
He was 80 years old.
  Don Sykes was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1936, the second of eight 
children born to Rose Bolden and father Chester Sykes who died when 
Donald was three years old. He lived in Chicago public housing while 
growing up, but said he never felt impoverished. Donald graduated from 
Wendell Phillips High School, and later taught at Phillips High School, 
while his younger siblings attended the school. He received a 
bachelor's degree at Northern Illinois University and later received a 
master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
  In 1968, Donald became the Executive Director of the Social 
Development Commission (SDC) in Milwaukee and joined the war on 
poverty. He led SDC for the next two decades and during his tenure, the 
agency grew into Milwaukee County's largest anti-poverty agency. I am 
proud to say that early in my career, I was employed by SDC in one of 
my first professional positions. In 1993, Donald was appointed to serve 
as the director of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, 
Office of Community Relations for President Clinton; he served in 
Washington, DC for the next seven years developing nationwide welfare 
and anti-poverty programs. In 2007, Donald returned to Milwaukee to 
assume leadership of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board 
(MWIB), known today as Employ Milwaukee--a public/private partnership 
that coordinates employment and training programs for adults and youth 
in Milwaukee County. He announced his retirement from MWIB in 2014, 
concluding a career of working on behalf of low-income people and the 
community as a whole. Donald was a gentleman who seldom spoke ill of 
anyone and who was open to considering differing viewpoints.
  Donald married Geraldine Kirksey in 1960 and their union produced two 
sons, David and Dennis. In the 1970s, Donald and Gerri sponsored Trevor 
Knight, who became a beloved member of their family. He is survived by 
his wife Gerri, Sons David (Valerie), Dennis and Trevor (Laura); 
Grandchildren Travis (Susan), Ashley (Graham) and Tyler; Brothers 
Leonard and Clifton; Sisters Alberta and Patricia; Nieces Stephanie, 
Sharon, Jackie, Lisa, Sonja and Shamieka; Nephews Kenneth, Chris, 
Carleton; and numerous aunts, cousins, grand nieces and nephews. He 
leaves a strong legacy of leadership for his children and grandchildren 
to model.
  Mr. Speaker, Don was my friend, and a valued member of Milwaukee and 
the 4th Congressional District. I urge you and my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to join me in a salute to the late Donald 
Sykes.

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