Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 45th Pastoral Anniversary of Dallas A. Walker, Jr., Minister of Detroit's Wyoming Avenue Church of Christ.

Born in Vernon, Alabama, Pastor Walker comes from a strong lineage of faith leaders. His grandfather was a pioneer minister in Northwest Alabama and his father served as a church elder at the Mayfield Church of Christ in Fayette, Alabama. His mother was a devout Christian that lived to see her two youngest sons fulfill a family legacy proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.

Pastor Walker graduated from Lamar County Training School, and went on to attend Southwestern Christian College. He later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Master' s Degree in Professional Counseling from Wayne State University in Detroit. Pastor Walker began his formal ministry at the Church of Christ in Athens, Alabama. He has also served two other Alabama congregations, the Woodland Park Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama and the Farris Drive Church of Christ in Huntsville, Alabama.

Pastor Walker and his wife of 54 years, Beverly MacDonald Walker (deceased), have three kids, Pamela Spear, Jennifer Leake, and Dallas A. Walker, III.

Widely known as a ``Preacher's Preacher'', he is an international evangelist, that has traveled firsthand to numerous biblical sites, among them the Mountain at Nebo, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Pastor Walker is a stalwart spiritual compass in the city of Detroit. He can be seen all over the district sharing the scripture and hosting revivals. His dedication to the community was honored with secondary street naming of Wyoming and Chippewa Avenues. He also sits on the board of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Celebrated Seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in applauding Pastor Dallas A. Walker, Jr. for his 45 years of service in ministry at the Wyoming Avenue Church of Christ.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor my constituent William ``Bill'' Ratliff for his commitment to public service and congratulate him on being named Assistant Chief of Police at Inkster's Police Department.

In 1987, while still attending high school, Mr. Ratliff got an early start to a career in public service as a Police Explorer for the Inkster Police Department. In 1991, he joined the Inkster Police Department as a Communications Assistant and Dispatcher. Mr. Ratliff excelled in that capacity and was rewarded with a promotion to Ordinance Officer.

In 1995, Mr. Ratliff would join the Detroit Police Department as their Spokesperson. He would remain with the department until he left for a private sector job in public relations.

In 2004, the Michigan Senate recognized Mr. Ratliff for courageous actions in donating a kidney to his best friend Omie Smith.

Mr. Ratliff's affinity for public service would eventually lead him back to public service. In 2006, he was named Chief of Staff for a Detroit City Council Member. A year later, he would return to his roots, becoming Inkster Police Department's Director of Emergency Management and Chief of Auxiliary Police.

In 2010, as a police officer, Mr. Ratliff was assigned to community policing. In 2014, his relentless hard work and tireless dedicated to ensuring public safety while taking heed to the needs of the community led to his promotion to the rank of Sergeant. Just two years later, he would be promoted again to Commander.

In 2018, Mr. Ratliff's commitment to service and public safety would be rewarded with a promotion to Assistant Chief of Police of Inkster's Police Department.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Assistant Chief of Police William ``Bill'' Ratliff on his well-earned promotion and over two decades of selfless service to the people of Southeast Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 45th Pastoral Anniversary of Dallas A. Walker, Jr., Minister of Detroit's Wyoming Avenue Church of Christ.

Born in Vernon, Alabama, Pastor Walker comes from a strong lineage of faith leaders. His grandfather was a pioneer minister in Northwest Alabama and his father served as a church elder at the Mayfield Church of Christ in Fayette, Alabama. His mother was a devout Christian that lived to see her two youngest sons fulfill a family legacy proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.

Pastor Walker graduated from Lamar County Training School, and went on to attend Southwestern Christian College. He later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Master's Degree in Professional Counseling from Wayne State University in Detroit. Pastor Walker began his formal ministry at the Church of Christ in Athens, Alabama. He has also served two other Alabama congregations, the Woodland Park Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama and the Farris Drive Church of Christ in Huntsville, Alabama.

Pastor Walker and his wife of 54 years, Beverly MacDonald Walker (deceased), have three kids, Pamela Spear, Jennifer Leake, and Dallas A. Walker, III.

Widely known as a ``Preacher's Preacher'', he is an international evangelist, that has traveled firsthand to numerous biblical sites, among them the Mountain at Nebo, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Pastor Walker is a stalwart spiritual compass in the city of Detroit. He can be seen all over the district sharing the scripture and hosting revivals. His dedication to the community was honored with secondary street naming of Wyoming and Chippewa Avenues. He also sits on the board of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Celebrated Seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in applauding Pastor Dallas A. Walker, Jr. for his 45 years of service in ministry at the Wyoming Avenue Church of Christ.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th birthday of Mr. Fletcher William.

Mr. Williams served as a Crew Chief (aircraft Mechanic) with a rank of Sergeant in the 100th Pursuit Squadron, the all black 332nd Fighter Group known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Born on October 23, 1918, Mr. Williams' has made great contributions to our country through his military service. While serving, his groups mantra was ``Keep Em' Flyin.'' Today, he still exudes that same spirit with his presence in the Detroit community.

It is with great pleasure that I honor his life and legacy on his 100th Birthday. May he continue to live a life filled with joy and many blessings.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a very happy birthday to a retired teacher in my district, Gladys Cooke. Born on December 17, 1938, Gladys was the third child of Jessie Mae and Robert Jones.

She graduated from Parker High School and Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama, and became a teacher in the Detroit school system, where she taught math at Cass Technical High School, Mumford High School, and Cooley High School. As a young woman she was featured in Ebony Magazine.

She has 3 brothers and 4 sisters, one of whom is deceased. She is the proud mother of Dr. Tiffany A. Cook of Atlanta, Georgia.

She will be celebrating her 80th Birthday next week with friends, family, and loved ones at Joe Muer Seafood at the Renaissance Center in Detroit.

Mr. Speaker, let me start out by saying: To God be the glory. I want to first thank God for giving me this great opportunity. I want to thank my family; Pastor John Pitts; a special thank you to my colleagues Brenda Lawrence, Congressman Brad Sherman, Sheila Jackson Lee, Chairman Cedric Richmond; all of the Congressional Black Caucus; and all of the Michigan delegation. To the leader and to all of my supporters, volunteers, my church family, the 13th Congressional District, and the State of Michigan, I say thank you.

This truly is a humble feeling to stand here and be sworn in amongst the men and women who do the work every day for the United States of America.

The voices of constituents of the 13th Congressional District have been heard, and I am now seated as their Representative of the United States of America. It is time to get to work. I am ready to roll up my sleeves during this lame-duck session, do what is expected of me, and join my colleagues in getting the job done for the 13th Congressional District and for the United States of America.

God bless the 13th Congressional District. God bless the United States of America.