Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who wore many hats, and wore all of them with a smile. Clyde John Stanlake of Laingsburg was a public servant, a pillar of the community, and a beloved face around town. His death leaves a void in the hearts of the Laingsburg community where his kindness and example of selfless service will never be forgotten.

To say that Clyde loved Laingsburg is an understatement. To say that he served Laingsburg is woefully inadequate as well. For more than 30 years, he literally put his life on the line for this community, serving as a firefighter, a medical first responder, and a lieutenant with LSW Emergency Services from 1987 to 2017. After a long shift of fighting fire's and saving lives, Clyde continued to give of himself in service with his other responsibilities: he was elected to multiple terms on Laingsburg City Council, served on the Planning Commission, and was president of the Library Board. As if that wasn't enough, Clyde devoted whatever spare time he had to community organizations. He was a lifelong member of the Lions Club, and the only member in the club's history to have been chosen to serve as president not once, not twice, but four times. Clyde chaired the annual Springtime Festival-- Laingsburg's biggest community event--for many years, and was grand marshal of the parade on several occasions.

If you didn't know Clyde from the fire station, City Hall, the festival, or the Lions Club, you most certainly knew him from the grocery store. A faithful employee of the Sage Market for 40 years, no shopper walked through the door during Clyde's shift without receiving a friendly smile and a sincere welcome. Beloved by his coworkers, his managers, and shoppers alike, his honesty, integrity, and reliability were legendary.

Clyde was the embodiment of community goodwill in virtually every form. He upheld his oath to serve and protect, ran for office to represent his community, volunteered for every cause, and never stopped trying to make a difference in people's lives. And he did it all with his signature smile. In the polarized, divided world we live in, Clyde's faithful service was all the more rare, and his absence is all the more painful.

The Laingsburg community lost a bright light when Clyde passed away in February 2023, but his lessons call to us from every corner of the community if. we're willing to listen, to learn, and to try to use our lives as he used his: in service to each other. Mr. Speaker, I send my condolences to the Laingsburg community and ask that Clyde John Stanlake forever be remembered here, in the People's House, as someone who changed the world with a smile.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the 50th anniversary and the life-changing work of Work Skills Corporation in Brighton, Michigan. For the past half-century, this non-profit has empowered and enriched the lives of people with disabilities and other barriers by providing meaningful employment and both educational and artistic opportunities.

It's been said that necessity is the mother of invention, but in the case of Work Skills, its creation was the work of both mothers and fathers, motivated by both necessity and love. In the early 1970s, a group of parents of children with disabilities saw very few options after high school to support their children, so they created the opportunities we celebrate today.

In 1973, they officially founded Work Skills Corporation, with the goal of creating innovative training and vocational programs to allow participants to identify skills and perform real work for competitive pay. In so doing, the programs offered benefits to participants, employers, and the community at large.

In 1978, Work Skills Corporation moved to a larger location on Weber Street to expand services, as the organization's person-centered approach to vocational assessment, training, and job placement programs flourished and evolved. Soon after, Work Skills Corporation established its first account with General Motors, a relationship that continues today. It was also at the Weber Street building where Work Skills Corporation first received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, a demonstration of commitment to continuous improvement Work Skills has maintained to this day.

By 1981, Work Skills Corporation had outgrown its space again and moved to its current location on Summit Street to accommodate a larger portfolio of community and business opportunities and increased demand for services. Work Skills Corporation partnered with Brighton Area Schools to offer on-site adult education classes, developed a custodial training program and was awarded contracts with the Michigan Department of Transportation, and provided mailroom services for Detroit Diesel Corporation.

Today, Work Skills Corporation has evolved to operate nine distinct service lines, and has enriched the lives of more than 50,000 participants who have collectively earned more than $25 million through meaningful work opportunities and artistic commissions.

For 50 years, Work Skills Corporation has helped people with disabilities create a pathway to economic opportunity, equity, and advancement. As a result, we are a more vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community, and I express my profound gratitude and best wishes for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who lived his entire life in quiet, dedicated service to the community he so loved, and whose loss we now mourn. Larry Silsby of Mason, Michigan, was a consummate public servant, deeply devoted to the principles of family, farming, and faith, and a fierce advocate for the interests of rural communities across our great state.

Larry was born on April 18, 1939, and graduated from Mason High School in 1957. Just a few years later, he married his wife Judith Emens, a love story that would bloom across more than 60 years. Together, they raised 3 children, and would go on to become grandparents of 8, and great grandparents of 2. As his family tree grew, he nourished its many branches through his example of hard work, honesty, and his secret recipe for pancakes. Larry cherished his time with his family, especially at their cottage on Drummond Island, where he loved to hunt for stones and watch the Lake Huron waves roll in.

But make no mistake about it--Mason was home, and most certainly where Larry's heart was. A man of the land, Larry spent more than a quarter century working his dairy farm, then continued to lend his expertise to the agriculture community as a board member for the Michigan Farm Bureau. He also served as a trustee for the Board of Education of his alma mater, Mason Public Schools, and was active in the local Masonic Lodge. In 1982 he was elected to the Aurelius Township Board, and from 1984 until the time of his death in March of this year, he served as Township Supervisor.

It's remarkable enough to hold the same job for nearly 40 years, but when that job is to serve the public, it's truly amazing. Larry was known for greeting everyone who walked into the township hall as a friend, whether they were there to dispute an assessment or inquire about a cemetery plot. And It should be noted that this was no cushy desk job, at least not for Larry, who was so devoted to his beloved community that he was often spotted mowing the grass and pulling weeds at the township parks in the mornings, and making sure the gates were pulled closed each evening. Perhaps his proudest accomplishment was overseeing the creation and opening of a new park, which will now live on as a testament to the goodwill he planted everywhere he went.

Larry was one of the first township supervisors I met when I took office in 2019, and someone whose advice I often sought on rural issues and perspectives. He dedicated his life to the betterment of the Mason area, and served, with no fanfare or spotlight, as the essential link connecting people to the services they needed to improve their lives. Today we mourn his loss, but we also celebrate the difference he made. On behalf of a grateful community, state, and Nation, I honor Larry for his faithful public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Oded Norkin, an extraordinary public servant who over the past year has provided extensive humanitarian assistance to the Country of Ukraine. When Russia began its illegal invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Mr. Norkin answered the call and selflessly dedicated his time to sourcing and delivering critical aid to the most vulnerable citizens of Ukraine. For Mr. Norkin, this was personal: his grandparents, Sara and Moshe Norkin, were killed in the streets of Odesa, Ukraine, in 1941, during the Holocaust. Mr. Norkin, who was born in Israel and served in the Israeli Army during the 1973 war before immigrating to the United States in 1978, has become a pillar of the community in Mid-Michigan. A man of action, he immediately looked for ways to help.

Mr. Norkin, alongside the Greater Lansing Jewish Federation and concerned citizens across the State of Michigan and beyond, gathered donations for the people of Ukraine. Separate from his activism, Mr. Norkin serves as the Vice President of Michigan Flyer, a public- transportation bus company. Because of this, he was able to translate his knowledge of the transportation industry into lifesaving help for the people of Ukraine. In the early days of the war, Mr. Norkin, together with a team of volunteers, helped evacuate elderly and infirm citizens of Odesa and Kharkiv to safety. Mr. Norkin and his team also secured five vehicles--four ambulances and one commercial vehicle--and necessary medical supplies and emergency equipment to be sent to Ukraine. The Greater Lansing Jewish Federation raised donations to cover the cost of an ambulance, defibrillators, and additional first aid supplies.

The ambulances were refurbished, supplied with emergency equipment specific to conflict zones, and delivered to cities across Ukraine. Mr. Norkin transferred the first of these ambulances to Odesa in March 2022. Within a month, a second and third ambulance were sent to Dnipro full of supplies to help aid vulnerable citizens. The fourth ambulance was later sent to Kyiv, and a commercial evacuation vehicle was sent to Chernivtsi.

Mr. Norkin has galvanized support for the Ukrainian people across Michigan and beyond. He has partnered with civil society leaders in Israel and Romania who have supported his efforts and connected him with like-minded individuals who assisted in completing these missions.

Mr. Norkin remains an important leader in his local community. Even while traveling abroad to deliver aid, he remains active in the Kehillat Israel Congregation and the Rotary International Service Club. Through these connections, Mr. Norkin continues to recruit, organize, and inspire others to join him in his mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine.

Mr. Oded Norkin continues to carry out this important work. He answers to a higher call to render assistance to those in greatest need, stands as a shining example and inspiration to all for his selfless efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine, and will forever be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the extraordinary career of a true servant leader. Mark Robinson has used his time, talent, and treasure to be the voice of the most vulnerable in our state, including more than two decades at the helm of Livingston County Catholic Charities.

But it all began with a young boy from Detroit studying his multiplication tables and catechism. Shortly after the death of his mother, a young Mark Robinson, newly enrolled in Catholic school, began learning some of the lessons that would shape his life, including compassion, kindness, gentleness, and humility. Mark went on to attend Mercy College (now University of Detroit Mercy), and received his Master's degree in social work from Wayne State University.

Armed with his faith, his education, and a firm commitment to make the world a better place, Mark began his social work career at Boysville, a haven for troubled young men, before taking a position at Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan. Through it all, he rooted himself in his faith, staying actively involved in Christian service at his local parish.

In January of 2001, Mark became the Executive Director of Livingston County Catholic Charities, a post he has held for the past 22 years. In that time, he has used every tool at his disposal to build a team of equally compassionate caregivers and to extend the organization's reach into the community. That includes spearheading the county's first day program for adults with dementia, overseeing the Special Ministries program for adults with developmental disabilities, securing a federal grant for a countywide substance abuse program, providing mental health counseling and foster care services, and ensuring that in all that it does, the organization lives up to its commitment to serve all residents regardless of religious preference, sex, age, ability or finances.

On several occasions Mark has opened up his office for me, and arranged meetings with local leaders so that I could hear from a diverse group of stakeholders. While he is retiring from his day job, I know his commitment to the community will never end, because it is who he is. I wish Mark all the best as he begins this new chapter, one I hope will be filled with quality time with his wife, Anne, and his daughter, Sarah. And if it isn't too much to ask, I wish for a winning season for his beloved Detroit Tigers. I would like to express my gratitude for the self-proclaimed ``city boy'' who has for so many years faithfully served Livingston County with his whole heart.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the remarkable life of Irene M. Hosking of Owosso, Michigan, who now celebrates an equally remarkable milestone: her 105th birthday. As a former Army nurse and a fierce advocate for women and veterans, Ms. Hosking has served both her patients and her country with pride.

Irene was born April 20, 1918 to Harry and Hilma M. Cox in Hurley, Wisconsin, the oldest of five siblings. In 1936, as a young graduate of Lincoln High School, Ms. Hosking already knew she wanted to devote her life to helping others, and enrolled in the Milwaukee Passavant Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1940. When her brother survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Irene again knew exactly what she wanted to do: on May 15, 1942, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps.

It was then, as World War II raged, that Irene first came to Michigan, as she was assigned to Fort Custer, near Battle Creek. Soon after, she was dispatched to Camp McCoy (now Fort McCoy) in Wisconsin, and later to Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Camp Stoneman, California; and finally across the globe to Australia. There, she joined a legion of Army

nurses tending to troops from the Pacific Theater, becoming one of the first female nurses to ever administer anesthesia to a wounded soldier. In total, Irene served more than two years overseas and earned the rank of First Lieutenant before separating from the service in 1946.

But it was back at Camp McCoy that Irene's life changed forever, when she met a young G.I. named Louis W. A. Hosking from Michigan. They married, and at the war's end made their home in Owosso, where together they would raise one son, one grandson, and two great grandchildren. For many years, Irene served as superintendent of nurses at the Shiawassee County Hospital on Lyons Road, which later moved to Norton Street and was known as the Pleasant View facility.

When Hosking came home and tried to join the VFW in 1946, she was told that women were not allowed. It took nearly four decades, but she persisted and finally became a member in 1984. But Irene was born to lead, and in 1995, the woman who was once forbidden to join became the first female commander at the Shiawassee County Council VFW Post No. 4005. She served as chaplain of the organization until 2022, when it should be noted she was 104 years old.

Irene Hosking represents the best of this Nation: selfless service, fearlessness in the face of obstacles, and a relentless dedication to her calling. With gratitude to the U.S. Army, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, and to all who have shared Irene's story over her long and fruitful life, today I join in tribute and reflect the appreciation and admiration of a grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor and in celebration of the 100th birthday of Mr. George T. Milekovich, Sr., a man who has used his life in service to his country, his community, and his family.

While we would love to claim him as a native Michigander, George was born in Campbell, Ohio, on April 8, 1923. As a young man who came of age as World War II raged, he made the decision to enlist in the United States Navy on May 26, 1943. George was stationed for boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center before he reported to the USS West Virginia in August of that same year and headed to the Pacific theater.

George took great pride in his role as a Shipfitter 2nd Class in the R Division onboard the West Virginia, which the crew affectionately referred to as ``The Mighty Wee Vee''. George and his shipmates took part in operations to capture Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. On April 1, 1945, while off the coast of Okinawa, the West Virginia was hit by a Japanese Kamikaze plane but was able to remain in action. It's a night forever seared into George's memory. So too is the

much more pleasant memory of the camaraderie he experienced when he and his shipmates crossed the equator, transforming them from slimy ``Pollywogs'' to trusty ``Shellbacks'' in the Navy's famous ``Crossing the Line: ceremony. Upon his return home, George was honorably discharged from Active Duty on February 6, 1946, but he continued to serve in the United States Naval Reserve for many years to come.

Milekovich settled in Lansing, Michigan, where he married his late wife, Lureta, on February 14, 1947. Together, he and Lureta had four sons: James, Anton, Edmund and George Jr.; and had the pleasure of spoiling another generation of grandchildren. George retired on June 1, 1985, from Michigan State University, where he served as an operating engineer for 26 years at the University Power Plant.

The selflessness of veterans like George Milekovich, Sr., who answered our Nation's call to serve during World War II, defines the true character of our greatest generation. It is my privilege to wish him a happy 100th birthday, and to thank him for his inspiring service in the United States Navy and his lifelong dedication to his community and his family.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a full century since the construction of a legendary landmark on the banks of

the Shiawassee River in Michigan's 7th Congressional district, which today is known as Curwood Castle. It was March 14, 1923 when the great American author James Oliver Curwood broke ground on an impressive structure to serve as his writing studio. While Owosso, Michigan may not be the first place you'd expect to find a replica of a French chateau, I am so thankful Mr. Curwood felt most inspired by his beloved boyhood home and chose to build his beautiful treasure there.

At the time, Curwood was one of the most popular authors in the world, having just published his 24th novel, with dozens of Hollywood movies based on his stories. His best-selling adventure and wilderness stories were largely molded by his travels in Canada, the Hudson Bay area, the Yukon, and Alaska. But after a tour of Europe the author came home, inspired to write a different tale by building a castle similar to the ones he'd seen in the French countryside.

As a father of three children, Curwood longed for a quiet place where he could write and host guests. His mother sold him the piece of land next to his childhood home for one dollar, and with the help of Lansing architect Harold Child, Curwood designed a glistening yellow Norman- style chateau and adorned the facade of the building with rocks as a tribute to the piles of rocks he and his brother had made as children. Unfortunately, Curwood died just four years after his masterpiece was completed, but the building lives on as a testament to his creativity and love of adventure.

In addition to his prolific writing career, Curwood was a passionate environmentalist and served on the Michigan Conservation Commission. It's not surprising then that he wished for this beautiful building to have new life after his passing, and that he bestowed the castle to the city of Owosso in his will. Over the years, the castle served as a youth center and even housed the Owosso Public Schools Board of Education, but since 1970 it has been open to the public as a museum highlighting the career and legacy of James Oliver Curwood. Every year in early June, this beautiful castle serves as the center of Owosso's Curwood Festival, drawing thousands of visitors to this small community in mid-Michigan to celebrate the life and works of its cherished son, in the place he created.

In it's 100 year history, Curwood Castle has been many things: a writer's retreat; a Hollywood office; and the site of fabulous parties. Today it stands as a singular architectural treasure, the legacy of a remarkable life and a reminder of glorious days gone by. It has been inscribed in the National Register of Historic Places, and only fitting that I recognize its significance here today. Long may this Michigan castle stand.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a legend of R&B sound who hails not from a musical capital like Detroit, Chicago, or New York, but from a small town in Michigan's 7th district: South Lyon.

Barbara Lewis was born into a powerful legacy, as the great- granddaughter of Civil War veteran, John W. Lewis. She was also born with a musical heritage, as her bandleader father played trumpet, her mother and uncle played saxophone, and her aunt was a music teacher. Surrounded by this symphony of sound, it's no surprise that Barbara began playing piano, guitar, and harmonica at an early age, writing songs at age nine, and singing lead vocals at family jam sessions in her teens. While Barbara told her friends and family she had no intention of pursuing music as a career, a meeting with Ollie McLaughlin, an Ann Arbor DJ-turned-producer and manager changed all that, and changed the course of her life.

Impressed by her talent and her original songs, McLaughlin signed Barbara on the spot. In 1962, she recorded her first two singles. One of them, a peppy, upbeat piece called ``My Heart Went Do Oat Da'' was, according to Barbara, written on her upright piano while she was babysitting one night while still attending South Lyon High School.

Lewis holds the distinction of being the first Michigan artist to record for Atlantic Records, and in the span of her career, she went on to record three Top Ten R&B hits for McLaughlin's record label, including the number one smash, ``Hello Stranger.'' She also had 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 during the 1960s, ranking her second to only Aretha Franklin in terms of chart success for female solo artists from the state of Michigan.

Barbara recorded songs at the legendary Motown studios in Detroit and performed with some of the greatest R&B artists of her time. Many of her songs have been remade and remastered and live on today, including by Queen Latifah, with others featured on hit movie soundtracks including ``The Bridges of Madison County.''

Barbara returned to Michigan in 1971, following stints in New York and Chicago, and lived many years in her home state before relocating to Florida. She received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999, and in 2016, Barbara Lewis was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. While health issues forced her to retire from singing in 2017, I ask that her legendary sound and contributions to the arts be forever recorded in our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a man who should have been hailed as a hero, but for too long his story was lost in history. Alexander Johnson was a Black Civil War Veteran who lived and worked in Owosso in the late 1800s, and when a group of white residents chased most Black folks out of town, Johnson and two other Black men refused to go.

Born in Tennessee in 1833, Johnson fled slavery and made his way to Michigan before enlisting in a Union regiment of African Americans in Kalamazoo to fight in the Civil War, then moving to Canada at the war's end, and later returning to Michigan to settle in Owosso with his wife.

No one knows for sure why he chose Owosso. Some historians believe Johnson's wife may have had family nearby. Others surmise he might have had connections to a home in Owosso rumored to be part of the Underground Railroad, and still others say that at the time, the growing community was a place where people of all races moved to explore economic opportunity. Whatever the reason, Owosso is where Alexander Johnson chose to put down roots, opening up a downtown barbershop and was, by all accounts, a well-liked businessman and respected member of the community.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long, as racial tensions grew and the Ku Klux Klan became active in the county. The tensions culminated in 1871 when 40 white vigilantes gathered together and attempted to drive all the Black residents out of town. There is little we know about this dark moment in Owosso's history, but we do know that Alexander Johnson was a light that would not be extinguished. Johnson stayed in Owosso, along with two other Black men, until he died. In 1907 Johnson received a military burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Owosso, and his story was buried with him for more than 100 years.

There are those who seek to ignore or even wipe away the more painful pieces of our history, and there are those who understand that we cannot ever be great without acknowledging our failures, learning from our mistakes, and moving forward with a commitment to grow. The Owosso Rotary Club falls into the latter category, as they were the ones not just to uncover Johnson's story, but to acknowledge it and honor it as a piece of Owosso's history.

Alexander Johnson was formally recognized by the Owosso Rotary on Veterans Day 2021 with a solemn ceremony at his gravesite. It is only fitting that I, too, join in paying tribute to this brave man whose convictions led him first out of slavery, then to fight for a country he believed in, to establish the life he wanted, and to stay in the community that he loved. May his memory be a blessing and an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of an extraordinary educator who shaped the lives of thousands of mid-Michigan students during her groundbreaking career.

Carrie Owens grew up in Florida during the time of segregation and high racial tensions, and she knew from an early age she wanted to work toward dismantling the systems she saw all around her. Though her parents had no formal education, they pushed their kids to have what they had not, and a young Carrie thrived in school. She eventually became a teacher and was hired by Okemos Public Schools in 1964, becoming the first Black teacher in the district.

It's said that when Mrs. Owens first interviewed for a job at Cornell Elementary School in Okemos, she vowed to help each student individually, because she recognized what many even in education circles did not yet grasp--that all students learn at different paces and in different ways. Just as she thrived in school, Owens did everything to ensure her students did the same, and she was put in charge of a transitional class of elementary students, who up until that point had had limited success in school. Owens made sure each of her students progressed to grade level, and empowered them to understand how they learned.

Word of her tireless dedication to student success and her innovative teaching philosophy spread quickly, and many families moved to Okemos just so their children could be in her class.

By the time she retired from teaching in 2001, she had touched thousands of young lives and helped change the face of education in the community. Not only did her hiring pave the way for other teachers of color, by the end of career Okemos had its first Black superintendent, and the district was overall a more diverse, inclusive community.

As we mark Black History Month, I salute Carrie Owens, who is Black history in Okemos. This trailblazing teacher has left her mark on the hearts and minds of the entire community, and we are so much better for her service. May her lessons live on in all the students she touched, and in all the lives she changed.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor one of the first African American college athletes and scholars who paved the way for students of color across the state of Michigan and this Nation.

Hiram Archer was the first student of color to be officially documented as a graduate of Olivet College, located in Eaton County, in Michigan's 7th Congressional District. He attended Olivet from 1888 through 1904, and played on the school's varsity baseball team, making him one of the first ten Black athletes in the nation to play intercollegiate sports. While a student at Olivet, Archer was active in music and other creative endeavors. A gifted public speaker, Archer won several oratory and debate contests, and spoke at prominent events including the inauguration of College President William G. Sperry in 1893. The school considers him to be a model representative of both the history and the future goals for students of color at Olivet College.

Archer remained at Olivet to complete his Master's degree in science, and went on to earn a doctorate. He went on to serve in leadership positions at several academic institutions, including Director of Science and Assistant Principal in the Agricultural and Mechanical College in Normal, Alabama, which is today known as Alabama A & M University. He finished his career with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. as a nationally-recognized scientist. Archer passed away in 1945 having made Olivet College and the state of Michigan proud. His alma mater says Archer's life's work is a testament to Olivet College' academic vision: Education for Individual and Social Responsibility.

According to Olivet's current President, Dr. Steven M. Corey, Archer's successes were extraordinary for anyone, but for an African American in the late 1800s, they were truly groundbreaking and added much to the rich Black history that has shaped the college and this country. Dr. Corey says he is proud that Hiram Archer is an Olivet College alumnus and left such an incredible legacy.

Today, his legacy lives on at Olivet College, with the Hiram Archer Student Success Academy, a mentorship and support group for students of color on campus. I ask that he be forever remembered for his pioneering contributions to the great state of Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a man who has spent his entire life and career breaking racial barriers and paving the way for future generations of Black scholars and leaders. The name Clifton Wharton Jr. is known by many in the Michigan State University community thanks to a prominent campus landmark: the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts. But in addition to his name, I want them to know his story, as it features a persistent rise against the odds, a tale worthy of being staged inside the building that now bears his name.

By the time Clifton Wharton Jr. became president of Michigan State University--the first African-American to head a major, predominantly white university in the United States--he was no stranger to being first. Wharton, who grew up in Boston, entered Harvard University at age 16. There he became the first Black announcer at the campus radio station and the first Black secretary of the National Student Association, a lobbying group he founded. Later, he was the first African-American admitted to Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. He worked for about a decade with the Agriculture Development Council, a non-governmental agency, before returning to the academic world.

When the MSU trustees appointed him the University's 14th president in 1969, it was a time of tremendous change and cultural upheaval for the country, with college campuses taking center stage in the civil rights movement and protests over the Vietnam War. Against that tumultuous backdrop, Wharton set another first: unlike any other major university president of the time, he supported students who demanded that their concerns be heard, even offering to personally take student petitions against the war to Michigan's Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.

Wharton's eight-year tenure at MSU's helm was marked by his successful efforts to maintain the quality of the University's academic programs in the face of major budget cuts, his commitment to serving underprivileged students, and the integration of the College of Osteopathic Medicine with the other medical schools. In 1978, Wharton achieved another first when he stepped down from MSU to become the chancellor for the State University of New York system, making him the first African American leader of the nation's largest university system.

But he wasn't done breaking barriers. In 1987, he was named the president and CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association- College Retirement Equities Fund, making him the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company. He held that role until 1993, when he became Deputy Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton, not surprisingly, the first African American to ever hold this second highest foreign policy post.

I salute Dr. Wharton for his groundbreaking career and the path of excellence he has blazed.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a legend of Lansing, Michigan whose

tireless advocacy on behalf of effective education for students of color changed the trajectory of hundreds of young lives in mid- Michigan.

Dr. Eva Evans was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended Northern High School in the early 1950s. Former teachers and fellow students remember her as one of the most willing, giving and compassionate people they'd ever met, traits that would ultimately define her entire life of service. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University and both Master's and Doctorate degrees from Michigan State University.

Dr. Evans served in a number of administrative positions in the Lansing School District, from Director of Elementary Education to Deputy Superintendent of Schools--the first female to ever hold that position. As a leader in the school system, she developed and implemented innovative programs, such as schools of choice and a district-wide talent fair for, students and staff. She connected the school district with Lansing Community College and Michigan State University for the 2+2+2 Program, which channels minority students into MSU's College of Engineering. While she had a particular passion for math and science, she also created the ``Be a Star'' performing arts program. These programs and partnerships have endured over the years, benefiting countless individuals and shaping practice and policy in education, health care, social services and beyond.

Outside the school buildings, Dr. Eva Evans tirelessly devoted herself to dozens of causes, giving of herself in leadership roles. She was the 24th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the chair of the Lansing Community College Foundation, President of the Lansing Woman's Club, and Grand Marshall of the African American Parade and Family Picnic in Lansing. Evans was also appointed by the governor to serve on the Michigan Council for the Humanities and was Chairman of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. She championed causes with the American Red Cross and created programs to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. I like to think of her as the great connector--connecting underprivileged students to education beyond high school, connecting communities in need to programs that had the capacity to help, and simply connecting people to one another.

Dr. Evans, who passed away in 2020, received numerous honors in her adopted hometown of Lansing, including the YWCA's Diana Award for Excellence in Education; the NAACP's Educator of the Year; the Lansing Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award; the Crystal Apple Award for Education from Michigan State University, and the Applause Award from the Lansing Center for the Arts. But I believe the greatest honor and the most profound title she ever received was to be called a teacher.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to one of the greatest basketball players of all time, a man who brought so much magic to the game it quite literally became part of his name. And it all began in Michigan's capital city of Lansing--his hometown.

To say that Earvin ``Magic'' Johnson came from humble roots is an understatement. His mother was a school janitor and his father worked the General Motors assembly line by day, and collected garbage in the evenings. Johnson would often help his father on the garbage route, earning him the nickname ``Garbage Man'' with the neighborhood kids. But all the teasing ended when he hit the basketball court. Johnson started playing as a youngster, and by the time he graduated from Lansing Everett High School--where he led his team to a state championship and was dubbed ``Magic''--he was already , considered the greatest high school basketball player to ever come out of Michigan. He moved just down the road to East Lansing, attending Michigan State University where he became a two-time All-American, leading the Spartans to the 1979 National Championship while being voted the Most Outstanding Player of that year's Final Four. He was the number one overall selection of the 1979 NBA draft, chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers where he would go on to play for his entire professional career.

The stats are dazzling: in his 13 seasons with the Lakers, Johnson was a key member

of five NBA Championships, as well as being a 12-time All-Star, three- time NBA Finals MVP and three-time league MVP. During his NBA career, Johnson averaged 19.5 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game and 11.2 assists per game. He was a member of the original NBA Dream Team, winning a Gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Both his Spartan jersey and his Lakers jersey were retired, and Magic Johnson has been inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Johnson stunned the world in 1991 with the announcement that he had tested positive for HIV. It was a seismic moment, as an athlete of Johnson's stature vowed in public to raise awareness about a virus that was shrouded in stigma. In the decades since that pivotal moment, his advocacy off the court has been as impressive as his skills on the court, and has not been limited to one topic. He's used his platform to support so many causes, from HIV and AIDS to mental health to COVID vaccines and the transformational power of wealth-building for Black families.

Johnson has said this about his legacy: ``Now these kids dream that they can become not only a basketball player or a football player, but they can become a businessman. So that's what's important, that we have power and that we have a seat at the table.''

With gratitude for his enduring contributions, Earvin Johnson not only provided a seat at the table, he helped construct it. A table, formed in the heart of Lansing, Michigan, shaped by a fierce work ethic and raw talent, and sprinkled with Magic.