The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN REMEMBRANCE OF DEVOYD JENNINGS
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 30, 2021
Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Mr. Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings, the longtime President and CEO of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. After a distinguished 41-
year long career within the organization, Mr. Jennings passed away on July 24, 2021 at the age of 73.
After graduating from Texas Wesleyan University in 1971 with a degree in marketing, Mr. Jennings had a 27-year career at TXU as a Community Affairs Specialist and was the first African-American lobbyist employed by Texas Electric. Since its establishment, he worked for over four decades in various positions within the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. His commitment to ensure the organization's mission ``to make Fort Worth a better place to work and raise a family'' truly serves as a model of civic leadership.
Mr. Jennings' professional and philanthropic efforts merited numerous awards from the Fort Worth community, including two commemorative City of Fort Worth ``Devoyd Jennings'' days in 1992 and 2005. The Fort Worth Business Press awarded him the Deal Maker award in 1998, recognized his contributions as a ``Who's Who in Economic Development'' in 1999, and, most recently, honored him with its ``Minority Leaders in Business Award'' in 2017.
Mr. Jennings worked tirelessly to provide new educational and economic opportunities for the citizens of Fort Worth. Amongst his endeavors, he helped established two standalone organizations, the William Mann Community Development Corporation and Southeast Fort Worth Inc., which continue to encourage growth and development in minority neighborhoods in Fort Worth. In addition, he was instrumental in the reconstruction and reopening of his beloved high school alma mater, I.M. Terrell, as a STEM & Performing Arts Center.
I join the community of Fort Worth in honoring Mr. Jennings' life and legacy and extend my sincere condolences to his friends and family. Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings led a life of outstanding civic virtue and service and his dedicated efforts to improve Fort Worth as a place to live and work will continue to positively benefit his hometown for years to come.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 134
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