HONORING THE WORK OF WILLIAM HENRY SIMONS, III, AND THE WILLIAM HENRY SIMONS, III, SCHOLARSHIP FUND; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 105
(Extensions of Remarks - June 21, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE WORK OF WILLIAM HENRY SIMONS, III, AND THE WILLIAM HENRY
SIMONS, III, SCHOLARSHIP FUND
______
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Friday, June 21, 2019
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of
Representatives to join me in recognizing the work of William Henry
Simons, III, and the William Henry Simons, III, Scholarship Fund.
On Saturday, June 22, the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU), which
represents educators in the District of Columbia's public schools, will
re-name its scholarship fund the William Henry Simons, III, Scholarship
Fund in honor of one of D.C.'s most important leaders, William Henry
Simons, III, who passed away in 2016. This scholarship has been making
contributions to the District of Columbia since 1974. The Scholarship
Fund is dedicated to encouraging D.C.'s best and brightest students to
pursue careers in education and support the next generation of D.C.
teachers. I am particularly pleased and honored to offer this
resolution not only because of Simons' much deserved merit as a teacher
and a union leader but also because he was my history teacher when I
attended Banneker High School here in the District.
In 1972, WTU, under the leadership of Simons, called a strike of D.C.
Public School teachers to protest pay and working conditions. The
strike violated D.C. law prohibiting strikes by public employees, and a
fine of $50,000 was imposed on the union. Simons asked the court to use
the money to benefit D.C. public school students. The request went to
the D.C. Superior Court, which in 1974, granted Simons his request.
That was the beginning of the WTU Scholarship Fund Program. Since 1974,
the Fund has awarded scholarships totaling more than $1,000,000 to over
100 D.C. public school students.
Simons was born in D.C. in 1924 and attended segregated D.C. public
schools. In 1943, he interrupted his studies at Miner Teachers College
to serve in World War II. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, as a sergeant major
in the 262nd Quartermasters Battalion, Simons was one of the heroes who
stormed Normandy and helped bring about the end of Nazi oppression. He
was awarded the Bronze Star and the Croix de Guerre for his courage.
After the war, Simons completed his education and began an 18-year
career as a social studies teacher at Banneker Junior High in D.C.
Simons was elected president of WTU in 1964 and served for a total of
25 years. During his tenure as president, Simons was a champion of D.C.
home rule and fought against plans that would have de facto re-
segregated D.C. schools. He was also a pioneer in fighting for
educational equity and the right of every D.C. public school student to
receive the educational opportunities they needed to succeed,
regardless of their race, ethnicity, immigration status or economic
circumstances.
He was an observer at the first democratic elections in South Africa,
a college lecturer, writer and consultant, and in 1995, he was
appointed treasurer of the prestigious Association for the Study of
African American Life and History, which was founded by the legendary
historian Carter G. Woodson.
Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in
commending and celebrating the life and legacy of William Henry Simons,
III, and in congratulating the Washington Teachers' Union for re-naming
its scholarship fund in his honor.
____________________