The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF ALBERT EARL BROOKS, SR.
______
HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of my dear friend, Albert Earl Brooks, Sr., a highly distinguished community leader who passed away on March 25, 2021.
Albert Brooks dedicated his life to serving others and participating in the struggle for racial equality, social and economic equity, and voting rights. Al was born in Tabor City, North Carolina and grew up in Buffalo, New York. He joined the United States Army and then received his B.A. from the University of New York at Buffalo.
After completing his service in the Army, Al served as the Executive Director of the Buffalo Affirmative Action Plan. He was then selected by Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York to work for the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. While working in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Al served as a Civil Rights Specialist and External Complaints Coordinator. This experience allowed him to transition to the Department of Labor where he worked as an Equal Opportunity Specialist and Civil Rights Officer. During his time at the Department of Labor, he became Executive Director for a program under the A. Philip Randolph lnstitute's Educational Fund. Under his leadership, the program pushed for desegregation of labor unions and to provide training for African American men who were historically denied employment in the trades industry.
His commitment to service extended beyond his professional life. Al was deeply involved in local politics and community activism. He was an active member of the Prince William County NAACP branch, the National Urban League, and the Prince William County Democratic Committee.
Al served as Chairman of the Black Democratic Committee for several terms and was coordinator of the PWC Democratic Committee's DMV early voting efforts for many years. During election season, Al would devote entire days to greeting voters at the DMV, passing out literature, and placing and removing candidate signs from the polling place.
Voting rights, community engagement, and grassroots organization motivated Al in all of his endeavors. His efforts of founding the African American Democratic Club helped increase the number of African American elected officials in Prince William County. He was instrumental in numerous campaigns and helped many of Prince William County's current leaders win their elections. Al worked to ensure everyone's voice was heard at the ballot box and he fully understood the power of civic engagement. Because of this work, Al has made our community better.
Madam Speaker, our community has lost a giant public servant, community icon, and a mentor to so many. A loving husband and father, Al spent his life in service to our country and to his community. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the memory and life of my dear friend, Albert Earl Brooks, Sr.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 128
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