June 10, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 96 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING LEWIS F. BROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 10, 2019

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember 
Lewis F. Brown for his years of exceptional public service to Solano 
County, California and to honor him for his commitment to our 
community.
  Born in Cleveland, Mississippi as the ninth of twelve children, Mr. 
Brown moved to California in the 1950s after he served in the Korean 
War. He attended Vallejo College and San Francisco State University 
where he graduated with a B.S. in Political Science. Mr. Brown was 
elected to the City Council of Vallejo in 1965. This victory made Mr. 
Brown the first African American individual to be elected to office in 
Solano County. He later served as Vice Mayor. In 1970, Mr. Brown was 
the first African American attorney in Solano County and the first 
African American attorney to integrate a law firm in the San Francisco 
Bay Area--Beeman, Bradley, Brown and Beeman.
  Mr. Brown was a lifelong advocate, representing marginalized people 
and those without a platform. He sued the State of California to 
eliminate the offensive legal title that was given to children whose 
parents were not married. Within Solano County he worked to develop 
local housing assistance programs. Mr. Brown also challenged the 
discriminatory policy that required beauticians of color take more 
curriculum than white beauticians. The equal policy he helped create 
has been in use by the California Cosmetology Board since the 1960s. 
Mr. Brown also helped the City of Vallejo receive matching funds to 
build its John F. Kennedy Public Library. Mr. Brown worked with Los 
Angeles city and county officials in the 1960s to replicate the 
community harmony that the City of Vallejo fostered. Mr. Brown was 
integral to Vallejo being named the most ``Multicultural City in 
America'' in the 2000 and 2010 censuses.
  Madam Speaker, Lewis F. Brown had an unrelenting commitment to serve 
the people of Solano County and the City of Vallejo throughout his 
life. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor the service and 
remember the life of Lewis F. Brown here today.

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