Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am truly honored and pleased to rise today in support of H.R. 3601, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7715 Post Road, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, as the Melvoid J. Benson Post Office Building. As my colleague stated, for more than 50 years Mel Benson has been a consummate public servant, dedicating her time to educating our youth, fighting for social justice, building up our communities, and giving back to her friends and neighbors. Born Melvoid Estes on February 13, 1930, in Jackson, Tennessee, Mel grew up in the segregated South, but that did not stop her from pursuing an education and becoming active in politics. Her father worked for the railroad, and her mother was a teacher. According to Mel, they both instilled in her the importance of education. ``Every generation,'' they said, ``must do better than the last.'' Mel took their advice to heart and made education a priority. She graduated from high school in 1947 and went on to receive her bachelor's degree from Lane College in social science with a minor in education. Two years later she married her high school sweetheart, Arnathia ``Ben'' Benson, who joined the Navy after college. Mel taught her first class at an all-Black school in Madison County. However, as a Navy wife, she wouldn't stay in Tennessee for long.…”