PRINTER'S NO. 1619
No. 248 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, BRIGHTBILL, JUBELIRER, WASHINGTON, COSTA,
FONTANA, PIPPY, FERLO, WENGER, HUGHES, STOUT, BOSCOLA, PUNT,
MELLOW, ERICKSON, C. WILLIAMS, KASUNIC, STACK, RAFFERTY,
EARLL, TARTAGLIONE, GORDNER, WONDERLING, LOGAN, BROWNE,
CONTI, FUMO, PICCOLA, RHOADES, A. WILLIAMS, MADIGAN AND
D. WHITE, MARCH 20, 2006
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 20, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the life of former Speaker of the House of
2 Representatives K. Leroy Irvis and recognizing him as the
3 first African-American Speaker elected in the United States.
4 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was born in Saugerties, New York, on
5 December 27, 1919, to Francis and Harriet Irvis; and
6 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis graduated summa cum laude from the
7 New York State Teachers College, the University of New York and
8 the University of Pittsburgh Law School; and
9 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was an author, teacher, public
10 relations professional, steel chipper, news commentator, civil
11 rights leader, assistant district attorney and war attache to
12 the War Department; and
13 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was elected to the Pennsylvania House
14 of Representatives in 1958, representing the Hill District of
15 Pittsburgh in Allegheny County; and
16 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was recognized by his peers as a true
1 statesman and professional and was elected by his fellow
2 legislators to the positions of Caucus Chairman in 1963, Whip in
3 1967 and Leader of the Democratic Caucus in 1969; and
4 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was elected Speaker of the House of
5 Representatives on May 23, 1977; and
6 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis became the first African American
7 elected as Speaker in a House of Representatives in the United
8 States; and
9 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis retired from the House of
10 Representatives in 1988, having sponsored more than 1,600 pieces
11 of legislation addressing education, civil rights, health,
12 consumer protection, prison reform, housing and government
13 reform; and
14 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis, who believed in the skills and
15 intelligence of all students and believed that economics should
16 not disqualify a young person from the opportunity for higher
17 education, created, together with his colleagues, the
18 Pennsylvania Higher Education Equal Opportunity Act of 1971, Act
19 101, to provide all students with the opportunity to pursue an
20 advanced degree in this Commonwealth; and
21 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was respected by his colleagues,
22 friends, family, constituents and fellow members of the General
23 Assembly from both political parties as a true statesman,
24 gentleman and professional; and
25 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was a champion of civil rights,
26 higher education, prison reform, African-American culture and
27 the arts; and
28 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis was a published poet, wood sculptor,
29 painter, supporter of the arts and founder in 1977 of the
30 Legislative School Art Exhibit; and
20060S0248R1619 - 2 -
1 WHEREAS, K. Leroy Irvis passed from this life on March 16,
2 2006, at the age of 86; therefore be it
3 RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the life of the Honorable K.
4 Leroy Irvis, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, a
5 15-term member of the General Assembly who in 1977 became the
6 first African-American Speaker of any state legislature; and be
7 it further
8 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
9 the family of K. Leroy Irvis.
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