1Honoring the public service contributions and civil rights
2activism of Thelma Lovette, and extending condolences to her
3family.

4WHEREAS, Civil rights activist Thelma Lovette passed away on
5Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 98 years of age; and

6WHEREAS, Ms. Lovette graduated from Schenley High School and
7earned degrees from the University of Pittsburgh; and

8WHEREAS, She was the first African-American social worker at
9Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital, where she retired 15 years later as
10the supervisor of social workers; and

11WHEREAS, Her advocacy for the Hill District through
12membership on the Pittsburgh Planning Commission, the board of
13the Hill Community Development Corporation and the local YMCA's
14Board of Management, where she was the first woman to serve, was
15felt throughout Pittsburgh; and

16WHEREAS, She helped organize marches and events in Pittsburgh

1during the Civil Rights Movement and took part in the 1963 March
2on Washington; and

3WHEREAS, For 35 years, she served as a Democratic
4Committeewoman from Pittsburgh's Fifth Ward; and

5WHEREAS, In 1996, she ran as an Olympic torchbearer for
6Pennsylvania during the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta; and

7WHEREAS, The Thelma Lovette YMCA of Pittsburgh is named in
8her honor; and

9WHEREAS, Thelma Lovette was loved and admired by the
10residents of the Hill District and by the City of Pittsburgh;
11therefore be it

12RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the public
13service contributions and civil rights activism of Thelma
14Lovette and extend condolences to her family.