Melvin "TooT" Johnson

Melvin C. Johnson .........HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON OF MISSISSIPPI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 HONORING MELVIN C. JOHNSON UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONGRESSIONAL RECORD PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113TH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION.........Mr Thompson. Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary community leader, Mr Melvin Johnson. Mr Melvin Charles Johnson was born and raised in a small town of Tunica, MS. He has been married to Debra L. (Toney) Johnson for 23 years. He was introduced to politics at the early age of 10. He marched in his first Civil Rights March in Tunica, MS in 1963 and became the vice president of the SCLC Youth Organization in Tunica.....He was one of the first that was elected State Constable in the Northern District of Tunica County. Mrs. Nellie Johnson, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Johnson contacted a TV spokesperson to tell them and show them the conditions people were living in. This area was called Sugar Ditch, at the time......Mr. Johnson also walked with Jessie Jackson when he came to Tunica to address poor living conditions in Tunica County. After this was brought to the world's attention, several people came to him looking for advice and told him about many other concerns that needed addressing in the community......Mr. Johnson saw in a local newspaper where they had printed an article that referred to him as the "County Community Organizer". In his lifetime, the only thing he had ever wanted to do was to help improve the living conditions in Tunica County, Mississippi. His mentors were Mrs. Lucille Hudson, Jessie Brandon Sr., and Mrs. Alice Brandon........Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Melvin Johnson for his dedication in being a respected community leader.