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TRIBUTE TO DR. PRESTON N. WILLIAMS

Speaker
C000537
Subject
C000537
Source
Congressional Record · original
Published
Thursday, May 14, 2026

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Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E452] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO DR. PRESTON N. WILLIAMS ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Thursday, May 14, 2026 Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Preston N. Williams on the occasion of his 100th birthday. This milestone represents a century of wisdom, scholarship, leadership, and faith. Few people leave a legacy that touches classrooms, churches, universities, communities, and generations of students the way Dr. Williams has throughout his extraordinary life. Born in the …

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Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E452] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO DR. PRESTON N. WILLIAMS ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Thursday, May 14, 2026 Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Preston N. Williams on the occasion of his 100th birthday. This milestone represents a century of wisdom, scholarship, leadership, and faith. Few people leave a legacy that touches classrooms, churches, universities, communities, and generations of students the way Dr. Williams has throughout his extraordinary life. Born in the rural town of Alcolu, South Carolina, Dr. Williams is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Johnson C. Smith University, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard University. His life has reflected an extraordinary commitment to learning and faith. His distinguished teaching career at historically Black colleges, Boston University, and Harvard Divinity School inspired generations of students and colleagues alike. In every setting, Dr. Williams has nurtured minds and spirits, encouraging students to recognize their own dignity, intellectual gifts, and capacity to lead during times when such affirmation was urgently needed. Dr. Williams made history as the first tenured African American faculty member at Harvard Divinity School and later as the first African American to serve as Acting Dean of the School. He also served as founding director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute. Last year, I was honored to receive the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard's Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, the successor to the Du Bois Institute. A leader among his peers, he also served as president of the American Academy of Religion, and president of the Society of Christian Ethics. Dr. Williams' scholarship in Christian ethics, African American religion, human rights, and social justice helped shape both academic study and public thought in profound and lasting ways. Those who know him best speak most often not of titles, but of his kindness, integrity, generosity, and wisdom. Throughout his life, Dr. Williams has demonstrated a deep commitment to building what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called, ``the Beloved Community.'' He expanded opportunities for students and scholars of color, helped broaden the study of African American and African religions in theological education, and created pathways for clergy and civic leaders through the Summer Leadership Institute for Church-Based Community and Economic Development. Even beyond his formal leadership roles, he has been a mentor, encourager, and trusted guide to countless individuals whose lives were transformed by his generosity and wisdom. As we honor Dr. Williams' 100th birthday, we give thanks for the countless lives he has influenced, including students who have become leaders, colleagues who became friends, and communities strengthened by his presence. His life reminds us that true greatness is measured not simply by achievement, but by the impact one has on others. In June, Dr. Williams and his lovely wife Dr. Constance ``Connie'' Williams will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. In honor of their lifetime of service to students, Harvard recently established the ``Constance W. and Preston N. Williams Scholarship Fund'' in their honor. They are the proud parents of David and Mark Williams. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating Dr. Preston N. Williams on this historic and joyful milestone. May his life continue to inspire and uplift his community for many years to come. ____________________

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