Burgess Owens: “I would like to begin by saluting my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Louis Stokes). This is an annual Special…”

“I would like to begin by saluting my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Louis Stokes). This is an annual Special Order that he has sponsored for many years, and we regret the fact that this is the last time that he will do it. We thank him very much for keeping the torch alive, and I assure him that in his memory the caucus will continue this tradition for years to come. The gentleman from Ohio goes home to Cleveland, where there is the whole public library, a brand new pace setting state-of-the-art library, named after him. Cleveland also is a place where there is a new kind of macroeconomics reaching out to encourage and embrace all business, but certainly offering a great opportunity for black businesses, African-American businesses. Cleveland is setting an example with a progressive mayor, I suppose one of the protegee of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Lou Stokes), and the whole tradition of the Stokes family there in Cleveland. So I salute the gentleman. I think the theme of this year's Black History Month is very fitting and proper for him and the leadership in Cleveland, Ohio.”