Contact:  Miguel Gonzalez (202) 822-7823

November 15, 2007

NEA Remembers Augustus 'Gus' Hawkins

'A visionary and stalwart of public education'

WASHINGTON—The National Education Association mourns the passing of the Honorable Augustus Freeman "Gus" Hawkins, who lived an exemplary life of dedication to civil rights and the advancement of equal opportunity for all.

"Gus Hawkins shaped our nation's priorities with grace and determination," said NEA President Reg Weaver. "A visionary and stalwart of public education, he championed the cause of students and educators by breaking down barriers to provide opportunities for all people and fought tirelessly to improve America's  public schools. The public education community is saddened to lose such a loyal and committed friend." 

Hawkins was elected to Congress in 1962—the first African American to represent California —after serving 27 years in the California State Assembly. When he retired from Congress in 1990 at the age of 82, he was the longest-serving African-American member and the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee.

He authored many important pieces of legislation while in Congress, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Elementary and Secondary School Act of 1965, later known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Hawkins was also the architect of the Humphrey Hawkins Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act, which President Jimmy Carter signed in 1978. It set four goals for the nation: full employment, growth in production, price stability, and balance of trade and budget. It also prohibited discrimination with respect to gender, religion, race, age and national origin in any program created under the measure.

In 1969, Hawkins was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and in 1986, he was instrumental in the formation of the National Council on Educating Black Children (NCEBC).

In 1988, Hawkins was named an NEA Friend of Education. The annual award recognizes a person and/or organization whose leadership, acts and support have contributed to the improvement of American education on a national level.

"Gus Hawkins will long be remembered for his stellar achievements in the areas of education and labor," Weaver said. "His passing is a somber reminder to all of us about our collective and continued responsibility to strive for equality for all."

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.