Tribute to Mr. Sam Flowers, Founder and President of the HICA Organization

TRIBUTE TO MR. SAM FLOWERS, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE HICA ORGANIZATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 20, 2004)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man who can be described in many ways. A good son, a husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, friend, churchman, community leader and much more. I simply call him a giant who has devoted more than 50 years of his life to helping human-kind.

Sam was one of the early African Americans who moved into the North Lawndale community. He did not just move in, he jumped in with both feet and immediately began to help organize block clubs, became an active member of the Presentation Church and helped to anchor many of its activities. In Sam's community many of the people could not get bank loans or mortgages and were buying their homes on contract. They discovered that they were being ripped off and thus formed the Contract Buyers League. Sam played an active role.

In the 1960's the Lawndale Peoples Planning and Action Conference was formed, Sam was an active member, later on Pyramidwest Development Corporation was formed. Sam became a member of its board. Out of these groups and organizations came the California Gardens nursing home, Community bank of Lawndale, the Martin Luther King, Jr. shopping center and plaza.

Sam eventually helped develop the Garfield Counseling Center, formed HICA and is currently involved with a housing development project for low and moderate income people. When you drive down Independence Boulevard you can see these buildings going up between Arthington and the Eisenhower Expressway. Sam was a tireless worker who never gave up. He gave every ounce of his strength and devotion that he could muster to his beloved family of which the North Lawndale Community is an integral part. Well done our good and faithful servant, you have moved to another community where peace will forever be present.