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“CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GREGORY CALHOUN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1448-E1449 on Oct. 23, 2018.
The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GREGORY CALHOUN
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HON. TERRI A. SEWELL
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Mr. Gregory Calhoun, who passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2018, at the age of 66. Calhoun was a pioneering businessman and the first black supermarket owner in the South. Through his entrepreneurial success and his contributions to Montgomery and communities across Alabama, Calhoun inspired those around him. His enterprising spirit and giving nature will not be forgotten.
Calhoun was born on September 10, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan. At an early age, his family moved to Montgomery, Alabama. There, Calhoun learned about the fundamentals of running a business from his father, Thomas Calhoun Sr., who was a business owner, and his mother, who was head of housekeeping at a local hotel.
From his parents, Calhoun also learned about the value of standing up for what you believe. In 1965, when Dr. King marched from Selma to Montgomery to highlight the injustice of voter suppression in the South, Calhoun's family joined the march. Calhoun was just 12, but he ran to the front of the march, where he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was this historic march which helped to expose the brutality of Jim Crow laws in the South and which built public support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Calhoun began work in the grocery business at a young age, starting as a bag boy at the local Southwest Super Foods. He was only 14 years old at the time, but he dreamed of someday owning the supermarket himself. Climbing the ladder of success was a slow process, but over the course of a decade Calhoun rose from stock boy to supermarket manager to an executive position with his supermarket's parent firm, Hudson-Thompson Co.
When Calhoun found out that Hudson-Thompson Co. was selling Southwest Super Foods, he jumped at the chance to buy the supermarket where he had gotten his start. Finding a loan to buy the store was not easy. Calhoun approached several Montgomery bankers, all of whom turned him down. Eventually, Calhoun found a willing financier in New York, but in order to secure funding, he had to put up his house and his life's savings as collateral for the loan.
With everything on line, Calhoun got to work managing his grocery business. He immediately began making improvements to the store, assuring store employees they would receive raises, buying new equipment and opening a deli, bakery and seafood shop, among other improvements. It was hard work, but he was not alone. Calhoun pointed to his faith in God and his family's support as keys to his success. As he was starting his supermarket business, Calhoun was able to work the long hours required to grow his stores because his wife, Verlyn, and his children were by his side. Over the course of his career, Calhoun built his supermarket business up to include 15 locations. Calhoun Foods would operate in west Montgomery for more than 20 years.
As a successful leader in the food industry, Calhoun became the first African American elected to the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Board of Directors. At FMI, Calhoun served three consecutive terms on the organization's Executive Committee and launched the popular FMI African American Share Group. Calhoun credited his family's help running the supermarket business for giving him the time necessary to dedicate to his board position at FMI.
After his success in the supermarket industry, Calhoun diversified his business ventures. In 1993, Calhoun and Associates was formed to assist Fortune 500 Companies with Minority and Diversity Affairs. Calhoun also founded other business ventures including Calhoun Communication and Superior Brokerage, both of which built on Calhoun's success as an entrepreneur.
In addition to running businesses and sitting on the board of FMI, Calhoun committed himself to uplifting his community and opening doors of opportunity for others. Through the establishment of the Greg Calhoun Foundation, Calhoun supported charities and community organizations that make a difference in the lives of young people, the elderly, the homeless, displaced Veterans and the medically inflicted. Calhoun also served on the boards of many charitable organizations including the United Way, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, and the Montgomery Area Food Bank. The Calhoun Celebrity Golf Tournament was Calhoun's major fundraiser to support donations to The Sickle Cell Foundation of Greater Montgomery, Macon and Dallas Counties, The Calhoun P.A.R.I.S Parenting Scholardome Program, and R.E.S.T.O.R. Shelter for the Homeless and Displaced Veterans. Icons including Smokey Robinson and Steve Harvey joined the golf tournament regularly and helped to make it a philanthropic success.
Today we remember Calhoun as an advocate, not as a voice for the left or for the right, but as a voice for all people. During his life, Calhoun fought for jobs, he fought for our rights, and he fought to give underserved communities a shot at success. He would work with Republicans or Democrats if he thought they could make a positive difference. Calhoun worked side-by-side with freedom fighters like Rev. Jesse Jackson as a Rainbow PUSH board member. He also supported now-
Congresswoman Martha Roby, a Republican, when she first ran for City Council. Calhoun did not see party affiliation, he saw opportunities to make a difference, and he seized on them. For his business success and community leadership, Calhoun was recognized with an award for the National Minority Retail Firm of the Year in 1990 by the United States Department of Commerce. Calhoun was also chosen to tour with President Clinton during the 1999 Economic Development Tour, and he was appointed to serve on the board of First Lady Michelle Obama's Healthy Food Initiative in 2011.
Calhoun leaves behind his loving and faithful wife Verlyn, his sons Malcolm and Gregory Renard, and one of his biggest cheerleaders, his daughter ShaKenya, and his grandchildren whom he adored, Jacquenya, Mackinzie, Kaylin, Morgan, Yorel, Kelsie, London, and Ari. For future generations, Calhoun had a few words of advice. ``Nothing worthwhile is free,'' he said. Calhoun's mantra of working hard, studying, and knowing what you do took him from bag boy to business leader, and for aspiring young leaders in our community today, his words are worth remembering. Calhoun taught us that success is not some series of shortcuts or lucky draws, what drives success is dedication, it is your expertise and your deliberate focus on your work. This was a message that Calhoun shared with students, entrepreneurs, and employees. As a new generation sets out to blaze their own trail, I believe that the advice Calhoun gave and the guidance he provided will have a lasting impact.
On a personal note, Greg Calhoun has always been an inspiration to me through my. work in the public and private sectors. I remember Calhoun as an optimist who saw the opportunity in every challenge he faced. His achievements as an entrepreneur were a constant reminder that there is no secret ingredient to success--just our own hard work and dedication.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 7th Congressional District and the State of Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and contributions of Greg Calhoun. He was a community leader and a Montgomery treasure whose work to open doors for others has changed countless lives.
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