HONORING JAMES HAMMOND FOR HIS SELFLESS DEVOTION TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 78
(Extensions of Remarks - May 10, 2019)
Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING JAMES HAMMOND FOR HIS SELFLESS DEVOTION TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND
SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
______
HON. KATHY CASTOR
of florida
in the house of representatives
Friday, May 10, 2019
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in admiration and
respect to honor the life of true civil rights champion, James Hammond.
Retired Lt. Col. U.S. Army James Hammond was born on November 11th--
Veterans Day, a fitting beginning for a man who would give so much to
our state and our country. A pioneering civil rights leader, Mr.
Hammond helped shape my hometown of Tampa and we will remember his
legacy for the stands he took, the differences he made and the lives he
touched.
Born in Tampa, FL, Mr. Hammond graduated from Middleton High School
and later attended Hampton University earning a degree in electrical
engineering. He served his country in the U.S. Army in Texas, Germany,
England and Washington, rising all the way to the rank of lieutenant
colonel. While serving in the Army he created the Hammond Electric
Company. He became Tampa's first African-American, licensed, class-A
electrical contractor. He would go on to use his experience in business
to help create the Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan--working to bring
affordable housing and business incubators to underserved areas.
Mr. Hammond served as the First Commissioner of Community Relations
for the City of Tampa. In that role he was tasked with working towards
racial equality during the mid-60s. He worked to bring people together,
while constantly pushing our community to improve. His work led to more
training and jobs for African-Americans in city government. He
partnered with U.S. Congressman Sam Gibbons to secure a federal grant
to create our county's first preschool program. He worked to integrate
Tampa's downtown businesses. Where there was discrimination, he worked
for change; where there was injustice, he worked to overcome it; and
where there was an opportunity to improve the lives of his neighbors,
he seized on it.
Mr. Hammond's commitment to education lasted throughout his life. He
and his beloved wife Evelyne established a scholarship fund at their
alma mater, Hampton University. At the elementary school named for him,
students and families would often see him at school events. As Hammond
Elementary School principal Sheri Norkas described, ``He would tell the
students to repeat after him, and they happily repeated, `I will be
somebody.' ''
Mr. Hammond was part of the fabric of the Tampa community, helping
improve lives every day. He served as Chairman of the Civil Service
Board, District Chairman Boy Scouts of America, Board of Director
Member of The Greater Tampa Urban League, the Greater Tampa Chamber of
Commerce and Community Federal Savings and Loan Association. He was a
life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the NAACP. He has been
honored on this floor before, when my friend Congressman Alcee Hastings
proclaimed May 4th as National James A. Hammond Day.
Madam Speaker, on behalf of America, the citizens of Florida and my
neighbors across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor James Hammond for his
courage and selfless devotion to the people in our country and our
community. The time and energy he put in to improving the lives of
every person he met are unmatched. Today, we all pledge to carry on his
work and practice what he preached, the ``Three P's'' of patience,
persistence and positive thinking. He lifted up others and inspired our
greater Tampa community to bridge our differences for the benefit of
all. He walked humbly and was full of grace.
____________________