January 14, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 7 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF MAYOR LARRY PAUL LANGFORD; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 7
(Extensions of Remarks - January 14, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E40-E41] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF MAYOR LARRY PAUL LANGFORD ______ HON. TERRI A. SEWELL of alabama in the house of representatives Monday, January 14, 2019 Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Mayor Larry Paul Langford. Mayor Langford was a beloved member of the Birmingham, Fairfield and Jefferson County communities, who had bold dreams for the communities he loved and served He promoted economic development and made significant investments in the children and schools of Fairfield and Birmingham. Mayor Langford will be remembered as a larger than life personality who broke boundaries as the first black reporter for the region at WBRC; the first black Mayor of Fairfield, AL; the first black President of the Jefferson County Commission; and as a former Mayor of Birmingham. A Vietnam veteran, Mayor Langford served in public office in multiple capacities for nearly 23 years and will be greatly missed. On March 17, 1946, Larry Langford was born to John Langford and Lillian Nance Langford, as the oldest of six children. He grew up understanding the importance of a good education and having a strong foundation of faith to guide him. His mother often stressed that a quality education was the key to improving one's lot in life and encouraged all of her children to strive for academic success. A proud graduate of A. H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Langford took his mother's advice to heart, but placed his dreams of attaining a college degree on hold when he chose to enlist into the United States Air Force shortly after finishing high school. After serving for five years in the Air Force during the Vietnam Era, Langford returned home with a renewed sense of service to his community and quickly completed his college education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Langford attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences and began working for a local news station. Langford became the first African American male to become a news reporter for WBRC 6 News in its region The importance of this role was never lost on Langford. He knew that after the tumultuous decade before, to have an African American man reporting the news in this area was just one of several signs that the City of Birmingham was changing. Langford did well as a reporter, using his charisma and outgoing personality, he was able to speak with the people of Birmingham every day and record their stories. After several years working as a reporter, Langford decided to run for his first political office. He was elected to the Birmingham City Council in 1977 where he quickly became known as the ``liveliest and most outspoken'' of the council members, as well as the most media- savvy. He would frequently brief reporters before meetings and would then provide the most memorable or controversial quotes packaged in sound bites for television coverage. During his time on the Birmingham Council, he also worked as a radio news director and contributed to the Birmingham Times. After an unsuccessful run for Mayor of the City of Birmingham against fellow councilman Richard Arrington, Jr. in 1979, Langford temporarily retreated from public service. By 1982, Langford had moved to Fairfield, AL and married the love of his life, Melva Ferguson A few years later, Langford decided to return to public service and help the City of Fairfield respond to the complaints of the community. Langford ran for Mayor and won handily, defeating a crowded field of several candidates. Langford became the first African American Mayor of the City of Fairfield in 1988, another first for the charismatic public servant. After his election, he began an aggressive campaign to revitalize the city that included a massive project that would fix the streets and sidewalks of Fairfield. After a successful lobbying attempt to the Alabama State Legislature, Langford was granted more power in his role as Mayor over the Fairfield City Council, that allowed him to increase the city's sales tax to save Fairfield City Schools which were facing bankruptcy and the possible threat of having to close all of the public schools in the City. It was there that Langford became an outspoken advocate for students and began to find ways to make sure students who attended Fairfield City Schools would be ready for the technological advancements they would be facing in the near future. While the Mayor of Fairfield, Langford also distinguished himself by pushing for regional cooperation in economic development and he became the driving force behind an agreement of 11 Jefferson County municipalities to join forces in 1998 to finance the construction of Visionland Amusement Park in Bessemer, a $90 million project. During his fourth term as Fairfield Mayor, Langford set his eye on the Jefferson County Commission where he hoped his connections in Jefferson County would allow for stronger regional partnership amongst the cities of Jefferson County. Langford was elected to the Jefferson County Commission in 2002, defeating incumbent Jeff Germany. After being elected to the Commission, he was then elected President of the Jefferson County Commission; becoming the first African American to do so. A strong believer in helping students succeed, he proposed a 1 percent sales tax that helped build 30 new schools and generated over $1 billion in revenue. These new resources were immediately put to use by the nearly 36,000 students who were a part of the Jefferson County School System at that time. This was one of Langford's most successful projects and the effects of these schools are still felt throughout the county today. In 2006, Langford attempted a second run for Mayor of Birmingham This time, he was successful and won enough votes to avoid a run-off election. Mayor Langford was sworn in on November 13, 2007. Just like he had done in Fairfield and on the Jefferson County Commission, as Birmingham Mayor, he put students first. Langford wanted to make sure that these students were getting every opportunity possible. Mayor Langford struck an agreement with a foundation that provided computers to children from developing countries, and got them to expand their reach to Birmingham City School. Nearly 17,000 elementary and middle school students received laptops that year. While Mayor Langford's 23-year political career resulted in many successful public projects, his service was not without its controversy. Mayor Langford's tenure as Birmingham mayor was cut short when a jury [[Page E41]] found him guilty of public corruption on October 28, 2009 and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. After serving eight and half years, on December 28, 2018, due to his failing health, Mayor Langford's sentence was commuted by a federal judge giving compassion release. The next day, Mayor Langford was transferred from a federal prison hospital in Lexington, Kentucky to Birmingham by ambulance where he was admitted to a Birmingham hospital and remained until his death on January 8, 2019. Mayor Langford was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fairfield, AL and frequently held bible studies to help promote the Word of God. He wanted to help the young men and women in his community to be guided by the strength and lessons of the Bible and to help heal the community through faith. Mayor Langford is survived by his beloved wife, Melva; son, Ronald Strothers; brother, Oliver Nance; niece, Lena Powe McDonald; sister-in-law, Casi Ferguson; two grandchildren, Ronald and Jared Strothers; and a host of other nieces, nephews, friends and supporters. On a personal note, I am grateful for the kindness shown to me by Mayor and Mrs. Langford when I first moved to Birmingham. Mayor Langford was a man of big vision and a huge heart that has left our community better because of his many initiatives. It was out of respect for his many good deeds that I was honored to play a part in getting Mayor Langford's compassionate release due to his failing health so that he could spend his final days in Birmingham. Mayor Langford died as he lived--with dignity, distinction and as a free man with his family, friends and community who loved him deeply. On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of Mayor Larry Paul Langford. May we celebrate the totality of his life today and honor his great works during his 23 years of service to Fairfield, Birmingham, and Jefferson County, Alabama. ____________________