[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF MR. WILLIAM SINKLER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2017

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life Mr. William 
Sinkler, 79, a dedicated educator who spent his life committed to 
serving the children and schools of Southwest Virginia. William (Bill) 
Sinkler was born on October 9, 1937, in Eutawville, South Carolina and 
his contributions to his community, particularly to young students, are 
impressive.
  Mr. Sinkler was a true Southern gentleman, dignified, and held in 
high regards by all of us who him. As an educator, he set high 
expectations for his students and modeled respect and integrity.
  At the time of his retirement, Mr. Sinkler had spent 40 years as an 
educator, and was the first African-American to serve on the Salem 
School Board. For his commitment to the young minds of Lynchburg, 
Roanoke, and Salem, Mr. Sinkler received a Virginia General Assembly 
Resolution to recognize his devotion to the students. In the 
Resolution, he was recognized for his life motto, ``I've got to be 
me,'' and how he brought his personality and talents into each endeavor 
he undertook.
  He grew up in South Carolina, graduated from Morris College in 1960, 
and then served in the United States Army. After his service in the 
armed forces, Mr. Sinkler studied at Virginia State College and earned 
a Master's Degree in Education at University of Virginia. He taught 
Math and Science, and served as an Assistant Principal and a Principal. 
By the time of his retirement, Bill was the Vice-Chairman of the Salem 
School Board, where he had served from 1993 to 2009.
  I remember Mr. Sinkler's friendship and his ability to work closely 
with officials on both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. Sinkler was a very involved member of the community, for years he 
served on the City of Salem's Fair Housing Board and Planning 
Commission, and was an active member of the Salem Rotary Club, Boule, 
The Links, Inc., NAACP, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Beta Sigma. He was also 
a dedicated member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, in Salem, Virginia. 
There, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees, and the 
superintendent of the church's Sunday school, as well as teaching 
Sunday school classes.
  Mr. Sinkler was recognized through numerous awards, such as the Salem 
Police Depart Citizen Academy Certificate of Recognition, and Roanoke 
Valley Father of the Year, for Education.
  My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Sinkler's wife of 52 years, 
Marzetta; two sons, William and Wayne; two grandchildren, Karis and 
Mitchell; Sister Mary Q. Sinkler, and numerous extended family, as well 
as friends and loved ones.
  It is impossible to measure the impact of such a dedicated educator. 
Mr. Sinkler's legacy as an educator will live in the achievements of 
all the students who were positively impacted by his hard work and 
devotion.

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