Every year during Black History lunch, Rep. Castor hosts a luncheon to gather our neighbors and honor those who have made a difference. This year, the luncheon was held Feb. 22 at Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg and two community icons were recognized.

Mr. Vyrle Davis was a native of the Tampa Bay community and attended FAMU before beginning his teaching career at 16^th Street Elementary and Junior High School in 1960. In 1971, Mr. Davis was named assistant principal at Gibbs High School and two years later he became principal at St. Petersburg High School. In 1986, he became Pinellas County’s first African-American superintendent, a position he held for nine years. Mr. Davis also founded numerous initiatives and organizations that advanced both the political and educational causes of African Americans. He was admired by the Tampa Bay community, and those who knew him, revered him. He passed away Feb. 1, 2013, and in his honor, Mr. Davis' wife, Mozell, and daughter, Celeste, accepted the congressional record presented by Rep. Castor.

Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich’s contributions to civil rights, education, and public service have left an indelible mark on our country. She was the first African-American to be awarded a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship, which she used to study political science in Germany. Her impressive educational background has earned her teaching positions at some of the country’s most revered universities, including Howard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the George Washington University. Her commitment to public service has been evident as well. She served as Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was also New York State Housing Commissioner under Governor Mario Cuomo and has served as the Executive Director of President Carter’s Urban and Regional Policy Group. Here, she worked to issue America’s first formal National Urban Policy, a significant accomplishment. As residents of St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Scruggs-Leftwich and her husband, Reverend Edward Leftwhich, have launched the Quantum Opportunities after-school program through the Center for Community and Economic Justice.  This program works to help at-risk teens become community leaders through tutoring, internship opportunities and training in civic leadership skills. Her unwavering dedication to encouraging a commitment to education and community service with at-risk teens has contributed in countless ways to the Tampa Bay area.