Honoring the Life of Former Indiana State Rep. William A. Crawford -- Sept. 29, 2015

Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a respected public servant and outstanding citizen, former Indiana State Representative, William A. Crawford.

Maya Angelou once said, “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.” Representative Crawford is one such great soul, who served humanity in a special way. He spent his entire life dedicated to public service, pushing a message of equality and justice during his 40 years in the Indiana General Assembly.

On a personal note, Representative Crawford was a dear friend and mentor who I was privileged to know from a very young age. I have fond memories of getting to know ‘Bill’ as he served alongside my grandmother during her time at the Statehouse. With Bill’s passing, our state has lost a champion, our city has lost a leader, and I have lost a friend.

Revered as the most influential African-American state lawmaker in Indiana’s history, Representative Crawford made sure that African-American Hoosiers had a voice in government. He was the first African-American lawmaker to serve as chairman of the powerful and influential Indiana House Ways and Means Committee and was critical in starting the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus.

Representative Crawford was destined to lead and when he spoke people listened. He was inspired to serve by the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was present on April 4, 1968, and heard Senator Robert Kennedy’s words at 17^th and Broadway in Indianapolis announcing the death of Dr. King. Being there that night helped shape his career as an activist and led to his passionate work on behalf of the Kennedy/King Memorial on that historic site. Among his accomplishments was increasing minority enrollment at Ivy Tech Community College and creating the Indiana Black Expo into the institution it is today.

I extend my greatest sympathy to his wife Bernice, children Darren, Sr., Michael, Kim and Monica. I pray that God rests his soul and gives peace and comfort to his family and friends.