Mickey Leland
United States Congressman, George Thomas "Mickey" Leland Died On This Date In 1989.
Born In Lubbock, Texas, On November 27, 1944, Leland Was Elected To The Texas State Legislature In 1972. He Remained There Until He Was Elected To Congress In 1979.
In Washington, Leland Became An Advocate For Health, Children And The Elderly. He Was Also A Champion For The Hungry And Homeless, In The United States And Worldwide.
Mickey Leland Regularly Visited Soup Kitchens And Makeshift Shelters. He Is Best Remembered For Co-Authoring Legislation With Rep. Ben Gilman (R-NY), To Establish The House Select Committee On Hunger. Leland Was Named Committee Chairman When It Was Enacted In 1984.
The Committee's Mandate: "Conduct A Continuing, Comprehensive Study And Review Of The Problem Of Hunger And Malnutrition."
Through His Personal, Moral Leadership, Mickey Leland Was Able To Make Hunger A National And Global Issue.
His Legislative Initiatives Created The National Commission On Infant Mortality, Better Access To Fresh Food For At-Risk Women, Children And Infants, And The First Comprehensive Services For The Homeless.
Leland Opposed Food And Aid Being Used As Political Tools. He Advocated Communication With All Governments, In Order To Further Humanitarian Efforts.
On August 7, 1989, While Leading A Mission To An Isolated Refugee Camp, Fugnido, In Ethiopia, Mickey Leland And 14 Other People Were Killed In A Plane Crash.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hugh Gaddy, Jr.
