[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DAWN LUCIEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2017

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and 
accomplishments of Dawn Lucien, an exemplary and civically-minded 
leader who, for decades, provided the city of Tacoma and its 
surrounding community with invaluable contributions.
  After moving to Tacoma in 1947, Dawn quickly became involved in her 
city's civic and political life. Believing that Tacoma was truly the 
``gem of the universe,'' one of Dawn's first accomplishments in the 
city was becoming one of just two women elected to the Tacoma Board of 
Freeholders in 1956. Just four years later, Dawn served as an appointed 
member of the Tacoma City Council until 1962.
  Dawn's early contributions not only gained the recognition of many at 
the local level, but also caught the attention of leaders at a national 
level. In 1962, she was a Nominee to Congress, and was then approached 
by Vice President Hubert Humphrey to assist overseas. Her commitment to 
her duties in her beloved Tacoma was so strong that she nearly turned 
down the opportunity to represent the United States at the 1967 United 
Nations Economic and Social Council in Geneva.
  Continuing her commitment to community organizing, Dawn was 
instrumental in the 1990s rebirth of downtown Tacoma, and in the 
creation of the Tacoma campus of the University of Washington. She 
sought to revitalize her city through the promotion of the arts and 
education. Dawn was a fearless and independent leader who people viewed 
as the ``godmother'' of the city. She is remembered for working with 
others to bridge divides within her community. Dawn even won the 
Greater Tacoma Peace Prize for her 1988 work to resolve hotly disputed 
land claims between developers and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
  Dawn's decades-long commitment to fiercely serving her community and 
getting results, has played a key role in the growth of the city of 
Tacoma since she arrived in 1947.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great privilege that I recognize the life of 
Dawn Lucien. She is truly an exceptional reminder of the high level of 
commitment to our communities that we should all aspire to every day.

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