Recognizing the Career of Lonnie Braxton

Floor Speech

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Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the commendable career of a dedicated public servant and important figure in southeastern Connecticut, Lonnie Braxton. After 24 years of service as the Senior Assistant State's Attorney for juvenile matters for New London County, Lonnie retires on December 14th, 2021. Throughout his career, Lonnie has been a stalwart guardian defending civil rights within his community and a source of wisdom and guidance through his leadership positions within the State and local branches of the NAACP. Though the setting of Lonnie's public service has evolved throughout his career, his north star has always been driven by his mission to assist others. He has served honorably throughout his career, representing a true commitment to civil rights and justice.

Born in 1948, Lonnie was raised in Greenville, Mississippi where he attended high school and signaled his high level of competence, joining the U.S. Navy Reserves by his sophomore year. Upon his graduation, he served 18 months on Active Duty aboard the USS Amphion AR-13. After completing his Active Duty service with the Navy, our region became lucky enough for Lonnie to take a job with the submarine manufacturer Electric Boat in Groton, ultimately causing him to choose southeastern Connecticut as his new home. Lonnie went to work at Electric Boat for 10 years, holding various positions including electronics mechanic, radiation control monitor, property control analyst, and technical administrator in the material department. His technical skills and expertise were highly prized in an enterprise that adheres to a standard of excellence. He knew from his naval service that the lives of sailors depended on doing the job right.

Lonnie, of course, was destined to help his community in a different way--to make sure our courts protected the rights of every citizen young or old who came into contact with the criminal justice system. Following his time with Electric Boat, Lonnie went on to further his education, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Connecticut College in 1986 and subsequently a Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1988. He immediately immersed himself in legal work, where he gained the experience that prepared him for his paramount work as a Senior Assistant State's Attorney with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Since 1997, he has worked in Juvenile Court where he has furthered the agency's mission of promoting restorative justice, accountability, and rehabilitation. Lonnie overcame all resistance faced in his career, relentlessly representing every member of his community in the courtroom.

Madam Speaker, on a personal note, I first met Lonnie as a fellow attorney during my time as a practicing attorney in eastern Connecticut. His intelligence and compassion were apparent to me during the inevitable waiting time that lawyers experience in the court system. Based on that friendship, Lonnie in 2007 recommended a young attorney, Ms. Ayanti Grant, to apply for a job in my district office. Lucky for me, I offered her a job doing constituent immigration casework, and today she is the District Director for Connecticut's second district. I will be forever grateful to Lonnie for that fortuitous suggestion of Ayanti Grant, that has benefited thousands of citizens in eastern Connecticut.

Lonnie spent considerable time outside of his duties as a prosecutor serving his local communities. He is a member of the Board of Finance for the City of New London, a past member of the New London Planning and Zoning Committee, a member of the New London Schools Truancy Review Board, among others. He has demonstrated a commitment to the well-being of others and has helped guide southeastern Connecticut's next generation of legal advocates and civil figures. He became the First Vice President of the Norwich Branch of the NAACP upon its founding in 1963. He has fought for equality and civil rights for decades, having been a former President of the New London Branch of the NAACP. His work has paved the way for current and future activists to continue making gains for all residents of eastern Connecticut. Lonnie has lived through and helped foster great change in his lifetime, helping lead our Nation's continuing civil rights movement.

Outside of his career, Lonnie has demonstrated a passion for family, history, and the arts. He is the proud father of Lonnie Braxton III, who won the gold medal and silver medal in tennis at the National Special Olympics Games in 2010. This commitment to family runs into the past, as he is also the proud keeper of his family's stories and history. He is a renowned speaker and lecturer on the civil rights movement, African-American History, and African-American cinema. This history is crucial to our Nation's present and it is due to the efforts of historians such as Lonnie that the Nation can look to the past and continue striving to fulfill its great promises. Lonnie has also dedicated himself to collecting African-American movies from the 20th century. These arts have greatly contributed to the culture of the United States and we benefit tremendously from Lonnie's preservation efforts.

Madam Speaker, Lonnie's contributions in administering and advocating for justice within Connecticut's Second District are immeasurable and deserving of an equal amount of gratitude. His life and career, dedicated to public service, exist as an inspiration to those who follow in his footsteps. Although his retirement from the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice undoubtedly leaves large shoes to fill, he has demonstrated that the principles that have guided his career are larger than any one position. After such a long tenure in service, I also cannot imagine that his valuable insight will continue to go untapped. Lonnie will continue on to the next phase of his life with his family, his wife, Gwendolyn Bosco, and his son, Lonnie Braxton III. To these ends, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring, thanking, and congratulating Lonnie Braxton for his successful commitment to the public well-being and safety. There is no better way to honor such a steadfast steward of our community than immortalizing his career through the Congressional Record.

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