William Brewster: “I rise today to introduce Rev. Wade Watts of the McAlester, OK, Jerusalem Baptist Church. Reverend Watts, who just gave…”

“I rise today to introduce Rev. Wade Watts of the McAlester, OK, Jerusalem Baptist Church. Reverend Watts, who just gave today's opening prayer, is one of the most respected and well-known ministers in southeastern Oklahoma. He has been the pastor of the Jerusalem Baptist Church for 22 years. He served on President Johnson's Advisory Commission on Civil Rights for 4 years, as well as the Oklahoma crime commission for 4 years. Reverend Watts has also served 16 years as State president of the NAACP. The reverend is also one of the few people in my district who can claim the privilege of knowing and working with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., with whom he marched in Selma, AL. Reverend Watts has experienced trouble and turmoil. In the early seventies the Ku Klux Klan burned down his church. The reverend's spirit was not defeated. Over the next several years Reverend Watts was successful in saving the State's imperial wizard from the hatred and anger of his group and converted him to Christianity. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize Reverend Watts' hometown State senator who accompanied him to Washington. Senator Gene Stipe of McAlester, who is with us today, is the longest serving member of the State legislature in Oklahoma history. It is my honor, Mr. Speaker, to host and introduce Reverend Watts to the House of Representatives as today's Chaplain.”