Mike Thompson: “I thank the gentleman for the nice remarks with regard to Mr. Philmore Graham, for whom we are naming the post office in…”

“I thank the gentleman for the nice remarks with regard to Mr. Philmore Graham, for whom we are naming the post office in Vallejo. I want to preface my remarks by saying that my district just suffered a terrible earthquake, and it was centered between Vallejo and my home county of Napa, and two of the post offices in Vallejo are seriously damaged and are probably going to be torn down as a result, but remarkably, the one on Admiral Callaghan Lane in Vallejo is still standing. It hasn't received any damage at all, and that is the one that we are naming after Philmore Graham, and I think it is fitting because, like Philmore Graham, that post office is strong, standing, and serving the community, a community that Philmore served for decades. I feel particularly privileged to have known Philmore Graham. I knew him as a community leader. As was mentioned before, he was a hero. He served our country in the military. He founded the Omega Boys and Girls Club, and he was the first and only African American nuclear supervisor on Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and he had a passion for the lives of children and for the future of our community. He founded that Boys and Girls Club in his garage. He started with a small group of kids, and he grew that group to a large population within our community. Kids under Philmore's tutelage grew up to be great people and to do great things.…”