Recognizing Dr. Harold Wilkinson

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a local hero from the borough of Swarthmore, Dr. Harold Wilkinson.

Last month, at the age of 95, Dr. Wilkinson passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long life of exploration, inquiry, and service.

Hal enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 18 and served stateside through the end of World War II. After meeting his wife, Rosie, in medical school, the pair settled in Swarthmore, where he opened a family medical practice and she worked as a pediatrician for children with developmental disabilities.

For 42 years, Hal maintained his practice, serving generations of Swarthmore residents. He was known for making house calls long after it went out of fashion, continuing his service into his seventies.

After his wife, Rosie, passed away, Hal was lucky enough to marry another local legend, Sandy Sparrow, a beloved former elementary school principal with whom he continued to travel the world.

Dr. Wilkinson was a pillar of our community, an iconic figure who could be seen strolling with his friends or his rescue dog, Dugan, until late last year. A beloved friend to many, Hal was always interested in hearing the latest updates from friends and neighbors and exploring the world around him.

As the borough of Swarthmore mourns his passing, our hearts are with Hal's family. We were all so lucky to have known him. Celebrating the Life of Octavius V. Catto

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Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a Philadelphia hero, Octavius V. Catto.

If you come to Philadelphia, you will see a statue of Octavius Catto on the south side of City Hall. It is the city's first public statue honoring an individual African American.

Throughout his life, Catto was an outspoken activist for the abolition of slavery and for equal rights for Black Americans. During the Civil War, he joined Frederick Douglass and other Black leaders to recruit African Americans to join the fight for emancipation. After the war, Catto continued his advocacy and successfully fought to desegregate Philadelphia's streetcars.

Catto was a man of many accomplishments. He graduated from the Institute for Colored Youth, which is now Pennsylvania-05's own Cheyney University, the first HBCU in the country. He also ran the undefeated Pythian Baseball Club of Philadelphia, a Negro League baseball team that played the first Black versus White game.

However, the most enduring part of Catto's legacy is his efforts to secure the right to vote for Black Americans. He was a champion for suffrage and fought to ensure that no one would be denied access to the ballot box.

Ultimately, his life's work brought about Catto's untimely death. On October 10, 1871, the first election day that Black men were allowed to vote in Philadelphia, 32-year-old Catto was shot and killed by a White mob trying to stop the Black vote.

Octavius Catto's life and sacrifice are an important reminder of the importance of continuing his work and honoring his legacy today to ensure that all Americans have the freedom to vote free from mob rule, gerrymandering, and other efforts to silence their voices.

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