Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Piedad Ayala upon receiving the ``Member of the Year Award'' by the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ayala will be honored at the twenty-sixth annual State of the Hispanic Chamber Gala to be held on Friday, March 12, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mr. Piedad Ayala has worked with the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce through his businesses and his newly formed organization, Water for All. Since 1976, Mr. Ayala has been working with the agriculture community and is currently the CEO of Ayala Enterprises, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Farm Inc. specializing in farm management, farm labor, agricultural farming and livestock. He is also the CEO of Big Daddy Portable Toilets Inc. and Azteca Furniture:

With a great passion for the farmers of the Central San Joaquin Valley, Mr. Ayala has always been involved with promoting legislation to support the area. Recently, Mr. Ayala created ``Water for All'', an organization that supports the development of additional water resources in California. With Mr. Ayala's strong leadership and partnership with the California Latino Water Coalition, the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno County Farm Bureau, he has assisted in organizing multiple water rallies, including the March for Water held in 2009.

Mr. Ayala is a great supporter of business and education. Through his various businesses and the organizations that he works with, he has become a well known community activist, particularly in regard to water.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Piedad Ayala upon being awarded the ``Member of the Year Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Ayala many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Robert Acree upon being awarded with the ``Lifetime Achievement Award'' by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9896. Mr. Acree was honored on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in Chowchilla, California.

Mr. Robert Acree was born and raised in Chowchilla, California. He attended Chowchilla High School, where he participated on the track team as a pole vaulter. He graduated from high school in 1965, and in 1967 enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Mr. Acree completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and completed technical school as a Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Specialist at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. His first assignment was at Davis-Montham Air Force Base in Arizona where he worked on the F-4C ``Phantom.'' In September 1969, Mr. Acree received orders to deploy to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He joined the 558th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Combat Support Group. He and his squadron kept the F-4 ``Phantoms'' in the air as the 558th conducted close air support for ground forces fighting the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese. The squadron was also responsible for conducting interdiction and combat air patrol activities.

Mr. Acree was assigned to the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang, Vietnam. With an aircraft landing or taking off every 52 seconds Da Nang Air Base is considered to be the busiest base in the world. The 421st, also known as the ``Black Widows,'' flew thousands of close air support missions and conducted interdiction and combat air activities. Toward the end of his military career, Mr. Acree was rotated to the States for one of several assignments at George Air Force Base in California. In April 1971, Mr. Acree received an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force; after only 88 days he re-enlisted back into the Air Force for 2 additional years. He served at Beale Air Force Base where he worked on the top secret SR-71 ``Blackbird'' spy plane. He was cross-trained in Aircraft Weapon Systems at Lowerly Air Force Base in Colorado and was then assigned to George Air Force Base. He completed his tour in Udorn, Thailand, working on F-4C's.

In 1976, Mr. Acree requested a tour in Korea and served at the Kunsan Air Base. He then spent 2 years at the Soesterberg Air Base in Holland, working on the F-4 Phantom and the F-15 Eagle. In 1979, he reported to Edwards Air Force Base. While at Edwards he met his soon to be wife, Amy. They spent 4 years at Hahn Air Base in Germany and finally landed back at George Air Force Base.

In July 1988, Master Sergeant Acree retired from the United States Air Force. During his twenty-one years of service, he earned an Associate of Science Degree in Aircraft Armament Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Upon his retirement, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with five oak leaf

clusters, the Air Force Longevity Award with four oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Service Long Tour Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Overseas Service Short Tour Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Training Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and device, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Mr. Acree and his family returned to Chowchilla, California after he retired. He was employed as the Utility Systems Supervisor for the City of Chowchilla. Mr. and Mrs. Acree have four sons and six grandchildren. Their two youngest sons currently serve in the Air Force. Mr. Acree is a Life Member of Chowchilla Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9896. He is serving as the vice-president of the ``Sons of Thunder'' bike club and is a member of ``This Ain't Your Mamma's Church'' biker church.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Robert Acree upon being named as a ``Distinguished Life Member'' by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9896. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Acree many years of continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3125, the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act. I commend Chairman Waxman, Ranking Member Barton, and the Energy and Commerce Committee members for producing this excellent, bipartisan bill. The legislation would require the National Telecommunications Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission to work together in creating and maintaining an accurate, comprehensive database of the radio broadcast spectrum.

As the FCC acknowledged in its recent National Broadband Plan, we are facing a spectrum shortage in the United States. Wireless carriers have suggested that current allocation of spectrum is inadequate to meet our growing demands. As third-generation (3G) technology matures, and fourth-generation (4G) rolls out, the demands on wireless broadband networks will only increase. This growth of wireless broadband will be constrained if government does not make spectrum available to enable network expansion and technology upgrades. It is also important to support the FCC's goal of making 300 megahertz of spectrum available for commercial use over the next 5 years, and 500 megahertz available over the next 10 years.

In order for that to happen, we must first have an adequate understanding of how the current spectrum is allocated and utilized. This critical bill allows the FCC and NTIA to identify spectrum that can be reallocated for commercial wireless use. In addition to creating an inventory, the bill allows for the creation of a centralized Web site to make the inventory available to the public. It also addresses concerns related to public disclosure in regards to national security, homeland security, or public safety issues.

Having an inventory will be instrumental in evaluating which bands can be reallocated for commercial mobile use. This bill represents the first step in the process of addressing the spectrum needs of existing and new mobile broadband providers. I commend the authors for bringing this bill to the House floor, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Mariscotti family upon being honored by the Fresno Chapter of the California Restaurant Association with the Best of the Valley ``Lifetime Achievement Award.'' The Mariscotti family will be honored on Monday, March 1, 2010 at the 2009 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards at the Saroyan Theatre in Fresno, California.

Rasmeo Mariscotti came to America in 1905 with his parents, Angelo and Caroline, and his sister, Louisa. Entering the United States through Ellis Island, the Mariscotti family made their way to Louisiana and worked on a sugar plantation. Once the family satisfied their debt to the sugar company, they boarded a train and settled in Madera, California where they had family and friends waiting for them.

Upon arriving in Madera, Rasmeo began working at the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company. Later, he went to work on the Roberts Ranch, where he met and married Pearl Pistoresi. Eventually, Rasmeo went into business with his cousin, opening a butchering business in Berenda; they butchered the meat and peddled it to the surrounding ranches. The butcher business grew from a meat market, into a grocery store and eventually to a gas station with an open-air soda stand. Once Prohibition ended, the open-air soda stand was transformed into a restaurant and the Mariscottis obtained a beer and wine sales license.

Rasmeo and Pearl had four children: Maybelle, Ethalae, Robert and Dino. With a growing family and a growing business, the Mariscottis were doing well. In 1947, the family hit a bump in the road when the State of California decided to develop Route 99 into a four-lane highway that cut directly through the town of Berenda. With the completion of the new highway, the city was gone. The Mariscottis decided to stay and build their next business, the Berenda Cafe.

After their son Robert returned from serving in the military, he began to work for his sister, Maybelle, and her husband at the Chowchilla Market. In 1953, Robert married Helen Hodina and they returned to the Berenda Cafe. The Berenda Cafe was operated by Rasmeo and Pearl until 1970 when Rasmeo passed away. After that, Robert and Helen continued operating the restaurant. Robert and Helen added a gift shop and renamed it the Berenda Ranch Restaurant.

In 1976, Highway 99 was expanded once again. With this alteration to the highway, the Berenda Restaurant gave way to progress. Robert and Helen continued the legacy of adaptation within the Mariscotti family and established the Vineyard Restaurant in Madera. In 1977 the Vineyard Restaurant opened its doors as a twenty-four hour diner, a comfort-food place that depended on traffic passing by on Highway 99. In 1985, Mr. and Mrs. Mariscotti added a bar and began to focus on lunch and dinner, with a priority of serving high-quality local food from local farms. The Vineyard Restaurant continues to operate by these principles.

Today, their son, Chris, carries on the family legacy in foodservice, running the family restaurant and continuing local philanthropic efforts with various organizations. The family hosted the ``Giving Tree'' program through the Madera Christmas Basket. They are also involved in the Kampus Kettle program, the Madera Chamber of Commerce. Chris Mariscotti has co-founded the local chapter of Slow Food International, Slow Food Madera. The Mariscotti family has been awarded the Crystal Tower Award from the Madera Compact, and the Vineyard Restaurant has been recognized by Spectator Magazine as one of the top restaurants in the Central Valley's wine-growing region and was featured by Via Magazine as one of the highlights of a trip down Highway 99.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Mariscotti family for their hard work, commitment to community, leadership, and their tradition of success in business. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the Mariscotti family many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Edward ``Ed'' Baloian upon being awarded with the Ag One ``2010 Community Salute.'' Mr. Baloian will be recognized on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Ag One event benefiting the Jordan College of Agricultural Science and Technology at California State University, Fresno.

In 1923, Ed Baloian's father, Charles, started a full-service produce business, Charles Baloian Company, Inc. In 1945, upon returning home from serving their country in World War II, Ed and his brother, James, joined their father as partners in the family business.

In 1965, the Baloians formed Pam Pak Distributors, Inc., to package and market fresh vegetables from a large number of local growers. Ed Baloian took on the responsibility of managing the operations at Pam Pak Distributors. Just three years later, in an effort to increase their annual business and to supply the rising local demand for their products, Pam Pak began its own farming operation.

Mr. James Baloian retired from the family business in 1985, and later that year, Mr. Baloian and his son, Tim, started a new branch to the company, Baloian Packing. This new business continued the efforts of Pam Pak, their number one label, and included Marty Boy, Balo and Valley Jewels. With the increased business, Mr. Ed Baloian was elected Chairman of the Board and Mr. Tim Baloian was elected President of the Board of Pam Pak Distributors.

Today, the company continues to be headquartered in Fresno, California. Under Mr. Baloian's leadership the company has grown to include a majority of the San Joaquin Valley, with extensions into Mexico and Chile. The company is a leading California fresh fruit and vegetable grower, shipper and packer. The company specializes in bell peppers, lettuce, eggplant, red onions, melons and squash. The company ships these products to grocery stores, restaurants and food service customers around the United States and Canada.

Outside of the farming and shipping industry, Mr. Baloian is very active in Rotary, is a Paul Harris Fellow and has served on the council at Peoples Church in Fresno, California. Recently, Mr. Baloian accepted the Central California Excellence in Business Award on behalf of his company.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Edward Baloian upon being awarded with the Ag One ``2010 Community Salute'' for his tremendous support of the agriculture community. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Baloian many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate LaVera Ethridge-Williams upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum in Fresno, California.

Mrs. LaVera Ethridge-Williams was born in Boley, Oklahoma in 1927 to John and Alberta Ethridge. She was raised in Wewoke, Oklahoma where she received her early education. As a child, she cared for her younger siblings while her parents worked. In 1945, Mrs. Ethridge-Williams moved to Fresno, California and attended Fresno City College and California State University, Fresno.

In 1968, Mrs. Ethridge-Williams began the process of opening a child care center in West Fresno. She recognized that a child care center would be a great asset to a community that was largely underserved. She faced many adversities; including obtaining a bank loan and attending many hearings with the state board for the Department of Health and Welfare. After four years of perseverance, Mrs. Ethridge-Williams was able to open her first private child care center. The center was designed specifically for infants and licensed by the California State Department of Social Welfare.

Mrs. Ethridge-Williams quickly began working on the goal of opening a chain of child care centers. She began designing the centers to be innovative and functional for the education of young children. These centers provided valuable early education, emphasizing the importance of school, health, vaccinations, nutrition, as well as employment opportunities for the West Fresno residents.

Mrs. Ethridge-Williams' love for her community and profession was evident throughout her life. She is one of the founding members of the Sickle Cell Support Group through her membership with the Fresno Chapter of The Links, Inc. For her service, Mrs. Ethridge-Williams has been recognized and honored with many awards; including being named the ``Outstanding Black Woman of the Year'' by Gamma Eta Chapter of the Iota Lambda Society, ``Minority Business Enterprise Award'' by the City of Fresno, ``Portrait of Success Award'' from the local NBC affiliate, KSEE 24, ``Woman of the Year'' for the 16th Senate District by former State Senator Jim Costa, ``Martin Luther King, Jr. Award'' and was recognized by the Fresno Unified School District for being a leader in education for the children in the community.

Mrs. Ethridge-Williams is married to Lonzell Williams and together they raised three children. They have five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate LaVera Ethridge-Williams upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mrs. Ethridge-Williams many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Ulysses Curry, M.D. upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Dr. Curry will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Dr. Ulysses ``U.S.'' Curry was born the seventh of eight children to Reverend Dr. Milton K. Curry Sr. and Lena Easter Curry in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Curry attended the University of Kansas.

Before completing his education, Dr. Curry joined the United States Army. He served in the Medical Corps during World War II from 1943 through 1946. Upon his Army discharge, Dr. Curry continued his education by attending Howard University and the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Finally, Dr. Curry completed his medical degree in 1952 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his medical internships in Raleigh, North Carolina, Fresno, California and Denver, Colorado.

In 1954, Dr. Curry married Mary Roper. Two years after they married, Dr. and Mrs. Curry, along with their three week old son, moved to Fresno, California and Dr. Curry started his practice. Dr. Curry had served the Fresno area as a practicing physician for fifty years when he retired in 2006.

Outside of his practice, Dr. Curry was active in city, state and national medical organizations. He served as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Diplomate American Board, Family Practice. Dr. Curry continues to be an active member of the Second Baptist Church of Fresno and in various community activities. Dr. Curry is heavily involved with Fresno's commitment to the United Negro College Fund, believing in the cause that ``A mind is a terrible thing to waste.''

Dr. and Mrs. Curry have five children, all of which have obtained Bachelors Degrees from four year universities. They also have four grandchildren; three are currently in college and one in high school.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Dr. Ulysses Curry upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Dr. Curry many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Hugh Goodwin upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mr. Goodwin will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mr. Hugh Wesley Goodwin, Sr. was born on May 6, 1921 to James and Anna Goodwin. He was the youngest of seven children. The family settled in Steelton, Pennsylvania where his father worked both as a steel worker and a Baptist minister. Mr. Goodwin served in the military during World War II. Upon his discharge he graduated from Harvard Law School and moved to California to practice law.

Mr. Goodwin was the first African American lawyer and judge in Fresno County. He opened his law practice in Fresno during the early 1950's. In 1957 Mr. Goodwin married Frances Jones. Together they raised four children; Hugh, Paul, Anna and Tom.

Over the next fifty years, Mr. Goodwin continuously advocated for disadvantaged people and challenged the racial boundaries at the time. Through his perseverance and advocacy, he earned a wide range of respect from his peers, as well as members of the community. Mr. Goodwin was very active in the community. He was a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission Legal Council and volunteered at the Fresno Rescue Mission. Mr. Goodwin served as President of the Fresno Black Caucus and President of the West Fresno Little League. After the little league games, Mr. Goodwin would take the scores and highlights to The Fresno Bee to be published in the paper the next day. He was a devout Christian; he attended Second Baptist Church and served many years as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher.

In 1976, Mr. Goodwin was appointed to the municipal court bench in Fresno County. While serving on the bench, he gained national attention when he sentenced convicted defendants to church rather than serving jail time or paying fines. Throughout the controversy, he remained committed to his beliefs. Mr. Goodwin returned to private practice in 1978 and remained practicing until 1996. Mr. Goodwin passed away in 2004.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Hugh Goodwin. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Dolphas Trotter upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mr. Trotter will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mr. Dolphas Trotter was born in 1940 in Idabel, Oklahoma. In 1945 the Trotter family moved cross-country and settled in Southwest Fresno, California. Mr. Trotter attended Washington Union High School where he played football. During his senior year, he participated in the annual Fresno City-County All-Star game, which earned him a football scholarship to College of the Pacific, know today as University of the Pacific. Mr. Trotter graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor's degree and returned to Fresno and began working for Fresno County Department of Social Services.

Shortly after his return to Fresno, Mr. Trotter was drafted into the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1969. This experience affirmed his belief in the value of education and community. When he returned to Fresno from his military service, he began a career in education. The first of many positions Mr. Trotter held in education was at Franklin Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher. He moved on to teach at Edison High School, where he later became the Vice Principal and the first African-American Principal of the school. Mr. Trotter had a successful career in the Fresno school system including serving as Principal at Tioga Middle School and Cooper Middle School. For a brief time he served as the first African-American Interim Superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District and then served as the Superintendent at New Millennium Charter Schools.

Mr. Trotter was also a firm believer in community service. He sat on many boards and worked with many organizations, including the African American Historical and Cultural Museum Board of Directors, the Association of California School Administrators, Cedar Vista Hospital Advisory Board, Channel 24 Portrait of Success Board member, National Alliance of Black School Educators, State Center Community College Foundation and Washington Union School Board. For his service to these organizations Mr. Trotter has received many accolades.

Mr. Trotter and his wife met while working at the Fresno County Department of Social Service. They were married in 1972 and raised four children, including two adopted daughters. Mr. Trotter passed away on March 18, 2009. He was a strong advocate and will be remembered as an inspirational role model for the people of Fresno, and the residents of Southwest Fresno.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dolphas Trotter. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Hugh Goodwin upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mr. Goodwin will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mr. Hugh Wesley Goodwin, Sr. was born on May 6, 1921 to James and Anna Goodwin. He was the youngest of seven children. The family settled in Steelton, Pennsylvania where his father worked both as a steel worker and a Baptist minister. Mr. Goodwin served in the military during World War II. Upon his discharge he graduated from Harvard Law School and moved to California to practice law.

Mr. Goodwin was the first African American lawyer and judge in Fresno County. He opened his law practice in Fresno during the early 1950's. In 1957 Mr. Goodwin married Frances Jones. Together they raised four children; Hugh, Paul, Anna and Tom.

Over the next fifty years, Mr. Goodwin continuously advocated for disadvantaged people and challenged the racial boundaries at the time. Through his perseverance and advocacy, he earned a wide range of respect from his peers, as well as members of the community. Mr. Goodwin was very active in the community. He was a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission Legal Council and volunteered at the Fresno Rescue Mission. Mr. Goodwin served as President of the Fresno Black Caucus and President of the West Fresno Little League. After the little league games, Mr. Goodwin would take the scores and highlights to The Fresno Bee to be published in the paper the next day. He was a devout Christian; he attended Second Baptist Church and served many years as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher.

In 1976, Mr. Goodwin was appointed to the municipal court bench in Fresno County. While serving on the bench, he gained national attention when he sentenced convicted defendants to church rather than serving jail time or paying fines. Throughout the controversy, he remained committed to his beliefs. Mr. Goodwin returned to private practice in 1978 and remained practicing until 1996. Mr. Goodwin passed away in 2004.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Hugh Goodwin. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mattie Meyers upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mrs. Meyers will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mrs. Mattie Meyers was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and mathematics from North Carolina College at Durham (now known as North Carolina Central University) in 1947. Shortly after completing her education, Mrs. Meyers met a young doctor named Earl Meyers, during his residency at Durham's Lincoln Hospital. Mr. Meyers was from a prominent black family in Fresno, California. When Earl and Mattie married, they moved to Fresno.

Upon arriving in Fresno, Dr. Meyers established a medical practice to serve the nonwhite community of Fresno, which did not have medical services that were readily accessible to whites. Mrs. Meyers was the business manager and together they built the first black owned medical center in Fresno, which contained a clinical laboratory, pharmacy, housed an x-ray facility and was home to several African American physicians. Dr. Meyers served as a catalyst in bringing a number of young black physicians to the Fresno area, providing a higher standard of medical care available to African Americans.

While Dr. Meyers continued to focus on the medical disparities, Mrs. Meyers began to recognize different disparities such as segregation within the schools. She joined with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and eventually Fresno schools adopted an ``open enrollment policy'' which made it possible for African American children to attend schools outside of West Fresno. Mrs. Meyers' children were among the first to take advantage of the new policy. Her involvement with the NAACP did not end there; she also served as the President of the Fresno Chapter.

During Mrs. Meyers' term as President of the Fresno Chapter of the NAACP, she was able to orchestrate many achievements and milestones for the growing organization. She served during the early 1960s. She was able to bring Andrew Hatcher, the associate press secretary to President John Kennedy, to Fresno as a featured speaker at the NAACP's second annual banquet. Mr. Hatcher was one of the most influential African Americans in the country at that time. Later, Mrs. Meyers was instrumental in bringing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Fresno to spearhead a civil rights demonstration and march to Ratcliff Stadium.

Beyond her efforts with the NAACP, Mrs. Meyers was the first African American, and the first woman, to seek election as the Mayor of Fresno. She was not only active in local politics and local civil rights activities; she was also involved with movements around the nation. Mrs. Meyers was influential in the southern United States. She is a founding member of a number of black organizations, including Iota Phi Lambda Sorority.

Mrs. Meyers is the mother of five successful children and grandmother to nine. She is a member of the Westside Seventh Day Adventist Church, lifetime member of the NAACP, charter member of Iota Phi Lambda, a founding member of the Fresno Black Educators Association.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mattie Meyers upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mrs. Meyers many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Willie Brown, Sr. M.D. upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Dr. Brown will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Dr. Willie Brown was born on January 4, 1932 in rural Mississippi. His father worked as a sharecropper and educator and his mother raised 12 children. Against all odds, he attended the University of California, Berkley and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee during the 1950s. After completing the program with a medical degree, Dr. Brown was accepted as an intern at Fresno County Hospital, and moved toward becoming an obstetrician gynecologist. In 1962, he began a private practice. Dr. Brown was the first African American specialty board certified physician in Fresno County and the 51st African American Board Certified obstetrician gynecologist in the United States.

During Dr. Brown's 47 year career, he spent 22 of those years in practice with his son, Dr. Willie Brown, Jr. Together they delivered well over 22,000 babies in Fresno County. Dr. Brown's passion for education never ended, he was an instructor to many OB/Gyn physicians in the area and was recognized as an associate clinical professor in the department of OB/Gyn at the University of California, San Francisco in Fresno.

Dr. Brown also served as a Flight Surgeon and Clinic Commander of the U.S. Air Force 144th Dispensary in the California Air National Guard. He was honorably discharged as a Major by the Air Force and is a recipient of the Service Commendation Medal. Dr. Brown served as the director of the Office of Family Planning at the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission. He was the founding president of the John Hale Medical Forum and cofounder of the John Hale Medical Center in West Fresno. Dr. Brown was also a member of the Board of Governors in the Fresno Medical Society, a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and was a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP.

Dr. Brown was also an entrepreneur. Along with a few colleagues, Dr. Brown started and funded the first African American privately owned supermarket in West Fresno. He was a real estate developer, a music producer, a co-owner of Robert's Collision Repair business, a co-owner of Just Julia's Jewelry business and had his own record label, Gimini Twins and Brownstone Entertainment. Dr. Brown was a benefactor for Second Baptist Church, Northwest Church, Youth for Christ, Meharry Medical College, Edison High School, Fresno Westside Seventh Day Adventist Church and Family Community Church, where he served as deacon and deacon emeritus. For his enormous contributions to the community, Dr. Brown has been recognized by a number of organizations; including West Fresno Health Care Coalition and the local NBC affiliate, KSEE Channel 24.

Dr. Brown and his wife, Julia, were married for 54 years. Together they raised three children and had six grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Dr. Willie Brown, Sr. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Cecil Hinton upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mr. Hinton will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mr. Cecil Clarence Hinton was born in 1902. He was a native of Tennessee and spent his early life in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Mr. Hinton graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and completed some graduate work at Columbia University in New York.

Mr. Hinton moved to Fresno in 1944, and worked as a United Service Organization center director. He served for nineteen years as a director of the B Street Community Center in Fresno. The center was largely established through his efforts. Under his leadership the center served forty-eight youth groups and fifty-three adult groups through social and recreational programs. The center was rededicated in 1968 and renamed to the Cecil C. Hinton Community Center in his honor.

Mr. Hinton was a member of the National Conference of Social Welfare, the California Conference of Social Welfare, the California Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. For his efforts and community leadership Mr. Hinton was honored in 1976 by the California State Senate. In 1980, he was recognized and honored by the California State University, Fresno Black Gospel Choir and in 1985 was named a ``Fabulous Fresnan.''

Mr. Hinton was married to Martha Galliard; they raised one daughter, Lois Juantia. They have three grandchildren; Lisa, Jelan and Jenan all living in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Hinton passed away on August 23, 1987 at the age of eighty-five.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Cecil Hinton. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Shirley Ann Wiley upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mrs. Wiley will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Shirley Ann was born to Albert and Faye Jones in Sweetwater, Texas; she was one of nine children. She attended Booker T. Washington High School in Sweetwater, and was honored as a salutatorian of her graduating class. She graduated from Wiley College in 1960 with a Bachelors degree in music and a minor in history.

After completing college, Mrs. Wiley moved to California and worked as a social case worker for the Red Cross in San Bernardino County. While in San Bernardino, she began substitute teaching and discovered her passion for education. In 1965 she received a full time teaching position with the Earlimart School District. After marriage, she and her husband moved to Lancaster, where she taught for one year before moving to Fresno.

Mrs. Wiley earned a teaching position with the Fresno Unified School District and began working towards a Masters Degree in education from California State University, Fresno. She completed the program in 1975, and in 1986 she earned a Doctorate from the University of La Verne. During her forty-year career, Mrs. Wiley was a classroom teacher, resource specialist, and served as Vice Principal in the Fresno Unified School District. Later in her career, Mrs. Wiley began working for the West Fresno School District and served as the Principal and Assistant Superintendent. In 1987, Mrs. Wiley returned to the Fresno Unified School District, where she completed her career and retired in June 2003.

During her forty-three years in Fresno, Mrs. Wiley has been involved with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, the Black Political Council and is a founding board member of the African American Historical and Cultural Museum. Mrs. Wiley and her husband have raised two highly successful daughters.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Shirley Wiley for her years of dedicated service to education in Fresno. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mrs. Wiley many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Paul White upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mr. White will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California.

Mr. Paul White was born on March 23, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At age eleven his mother passed away and he, along with his five siblings, moved to Fresno, California to be raised by their grandparents. He graduated from Edison High School in 1962 and attended Fresno City College where he played basketball. He graduated from California State University, Fresno with a Bachelors of Arts degree and a Masters degree in Public Administration.

Mr. White served the Fresno community for over thirty years with distinguished careers in health care administration, human resources and social services. He was the first African American Assistant Administrator at Saint Agnes Hospital, Valley Medical Center and the Fresno County Health Department. Mr. White served as the Assistant Executive Director of Fresno County Economics Opportunity Commission for many years.

Outside of work, Mr. White was heavily involved with various community organizations including: the Black Infant Health Project, Babies First, the Marjaree Mason Center, March of Dimes, the California Transplant Donor Network, United Network of Organ Sharing, Minority Affairs Committee, Boy Scouts of America and he served on the Board of Directors for West Fresno Health Care Coalition, Inc. For his dedicated service, Mr. White has also been recognized and awarded by many organizations including: Fresno Metro Ministries, the California Transplant Donor Network, the United Black Men of Fresno, former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and the California State Senate and Assembly. Mr. White passed away on March 17, 2005. He and his wife, Sheila, had been married for forty years. Together they raised six children and had nine grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Paul White. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family.