Recognizing the Honorable David E. Lucas and the Honorable Elaine Huckabee Lucas

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor two distinguished public servants, community leaders, and dear friends of longstanding, Georgia State Senator David E. Lucas and Macon-Bibb Commissioner Elaine Huckabee Lucas. Their collective service of over more than six decades to the people of Macon-Bibb, the State of Georgia and humankind was recognized on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. during a community celebration at the Saint Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia.

State Senator David E. Lucas was born to the union of the late David Lucas and Beatrice Poole Lucas, both educators on April 23, 1950 in Byron, Georgia. He graduated from Lanier High School in Bibb County in 1968 and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Tuskegee University, attended Atlanta Law School in 1980, and has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Mercer University Medical School. At Tuskegee, he was on the 1971 SIAC Championship football team and after graduation in 1973, he returned home to Macon. In 1974, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, becoming the youngest member of that body. He has tirelessly represented Bibb County and Middle Georgia in both the Georgia House and State Senate for almost 50 years, becoming the most senior member.

Throughout his career Senator Lucas has fought for civil rights, voting rights and equal opportunity. He championed policies that uplift Georgia's seniors and improve healthcare access and outcomes in urban and rural communities. In the General Assembly, he has served on committees crucial to the economic development and wellbeing of our state, including Insurance, Energy, Utilities, Telecommunication, Appropriations and Transportation. I was blessed to serve with him for 16 years and can say without reservation, that there is no one who knows how to leverage the inner workings of state government for his constituents better than State Senator David Lucas.

In addition to his public service, Senator Lucas is a self-employed independent Insurance Agent and owner of TBL Inc., an entertainment promotions business. He has been a social studies teacher, football, basketball, and tennis coach; owner of the Macon Chiefs semi- professional football team and the Georgia Titans basketball team; and a charter member of the 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia. He has been married to the love of his life, Commissioner Elaine Huckabee Lucas for more than 47 years and reared four children--David, Jr., Aris, Leonard and Albert (deceased) with 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Commissioner Elaine Huckabee Lucas is a lifelong resident of Macon and the wife of Senator David Lucas. She is and has been his support and helpmate throughout their marriage, keeping him grounded during his numerous career and life pursuits. But, this ``Queen'' of East Macon is a monumental public servant in her own right. Born to the union of Ella Appling Huckabee and Leonard Huckabee, she graduated from Miller Senior High School, completed work in English at Macon Junior College and received her BS Degree, Magna Cum Laude from Savannah State College in Elementary Education. She earned a Master's Degree from Fort Valley State University and an Education Specialist Degree from Georgia College and State University. She is certified in early childhood education, middle grades, data collection and counseling. She taught elementary school for 18 years, was an elementary and high school counselor for 12 years, coordinated counseling and advisement for the Bibb County Teen Parent Center for 5 years, and after retirement, was counselor, graduation specialist and community service coordinator at the Hutching Career Center for 8 years.

First elected to the Macon City Council in 1983, Commissioner Lucas has continued her uninterrupted elective service, making history as the first female commissioner of the Macon-Bibb Consolidated Government. She has served on key committees including Community Resources and Development; Appropriations; and Employee Development and Compensation. She served as President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials; The Macon Bibb Board of Health; Martin Luther King Commission; Cemetery Preservation Board; and the Recreation Planning Committee. Her prolific record portrays a champion for voting rights, civil rights and equal access to services for all citizens. She is a founding member and first president of the Bibb County Voter Registration and Education League, member of NAACP, SCLC, Bibb County Democratic Executive Committee, and Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

In 2011, she opened EL High School Academy where over 1,800 school dropouts have reentered school and earned their high school diplomas. She is a 40-year blood donor, organ donor, and runs E. Lucas Consulting and Lenny's Handy Services in partnership with her son, Lenny.

Commissioner Elaine Lucas and Senator David Lucas are indeed a power couple and truly icons in the Middle Georgia area. Active members of Steward Chapel AME Church, they are indeed persons of faith. Moreover, they are my trusted friends of longstanding for over 50 years. It has been said that ``You make your living by what you get. You make your life by what you give!'' David and Elaine Lucas have truly made their lives by giving so much to so many for so long.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the 765,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District in recognizing and honoring the careers, service and legacies of State Senator David E. Lucas and Commissioner Elaine Huckabee Lucas. To God be the glory for the things they have done in support of humanity.

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