[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3094]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          ALTON MAURICE WHITE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 2017

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy 
of one of Tampa Bay's true trailblazer, Alton Maurice White, during 
Black History Month. He has dedicated himself to improving the lives of 
others through public service and education. Today, I am grateful to 
recognize his selfless dedication and honor his valuable service to our 
community.
  Mr. White chose early on into his impressive career to dedicate 
himself to service his community. Receiving an athletic scholarship to 
attend Florida A&M University, Mr. White was active both on and off the 
field. As a brother of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and a 
student-leader in the early 1960s, Mr. White embarked on civil rights 
demonstrations against segregation.
  After receiving a Bachelor in Education, Mr. White became a teacher 
and coach at Mercer University in Georgia then in the Hillsborough 
County Public School system. In 1967, he began his career in government 
service with the Federal Model Cities Program. Through bipartisan 
networking with political leaders in Washington, D.C., Mr. White 
brought millions of Model Cities dollars to Tampa to help end poverty 
and improve the lives of the city's residents.
  A pioneer of firsts, in 1968 Mr. White became the first African 
American appointed to the Florida Educational Television and Radio 
Advisory Board, which he later chaired. Only a year later in 1969, Mr. 
White expanded his expertise to include the first African American 
appointed to the Florida State Medical Advisory Board.
  In 1974, Mr. White was the first African American to run for Mayor of 
the City of Tampa. That same year, Mr. White overcame considerable 
oppositions to help build the Ybor City campus of Hillsborough 
Community College, serving as a trustee for Hillsborough Community 
College and eventually chairing the board.
  Mr. White has served the Tampa Bay community in countless ways, 
including as the Executive Director and Insurance Executive of the 
Tampa Housing Authority. Under Mr. White's leadership, the Tampa Bay 
community has received millions of dollars to aid public work and 
created hundreds of jobs.
  Mr. White is a beloved friend and a role model to many. Mr. White 
continues to give back through counseling hundreds of young aspiring 
business and community leaders. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay 
community, I am proud to recognize Alton Maurice White for his lifelong 
exemplary service in improving the lives of others.

                          ____________________