The publication is reproduced in full below:
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR DR. MAXWELL SCARLETT
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HON. MARC A. VEASEY
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 13, 2021
Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the legacy of Dr. Maxwell Scarlett--the first Black graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and a Fort Worth physician who specialized in emergency medicine.
Dr. Scarlett grew up in Fort Worth's historic Stop Six neighborhood surrounded by a family of educators. His mother was a teacher, as were both of her grandparents. So, while growing up, Dr. Scarlett always knew that he would attend college. But what he didn't know was that his graduation would break racial barriers.
He initially enrolled at the University of North Texas (known then as North Texas State), and almost instantly began to break barriers. He was one of the first three African American men to live in a dorm there. Then, he integrated the school's biology honor society and later became the first Black student to grade papers and teach in the school's Science Department.
Dr. Scarlett transferred to UTA his senior year--three years after the school first integrated. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology in 1966. Looking around at his graduation ceremony, he wondered if he was the only Black graduate that year. In fact, he was the first Black graduate in UTA's entire history, a fact he did not learn until 1997--about 30 years after his graduation.
After graduating, Dr. Scarlett enrolled in medical school at Howard University. He later returned to Fort Worth to start his medical practice because he noticed there was a need for doctors back home. He even continued seeing emergency medicine patients after retiring from his Fort Worth practice in 2014.
Dr. Scarlett never set out to break barriers, but through his hard work and dedication, he did just that. He helped open doors for so many young African Americans, and many others who faced exclusion. Today, we honor his legacy, and may we continue to follow his lead in creating a more equal America.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 146
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