CLEVELAND — From the streets of Cleveland to the corridors of Washington, a steady outpouring of tributes keep pouring in for former Congressman Louis Stokes.
From some of the ordinary Clevelanders he served, words of sincere appreciation.
Cleveland resident Latasha Loper said Stokes and his service “helped a lot of us understand our opportunity not just as blacks but a community itself.”
Clevelander Fred Young said simply, “He was a good man and he really helped us out a lot.”
Ruth Barnett said, ” We’re losing a great man. There’s not too many people in the world that helped the way he did.”
Former Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar partnered with Stokes for 16 years representing Cleveland. Stokes’ district was on the East Side, hers on the West Side.
“He was my brother. He called me sister. We worked together because we were Cleveland kids and loved our city……We got more grants than any other city when we were both in Congress…. He was the epitome of the ideal Congressman.”
Councilman Zack Reed says Stokes was an example for younger officeholders, teaching a lesson of being trustworthy.
“If the Congressman said this is what we are going to do, we know we could take that to the bank,” he said.
READ MORE: WKYC.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of WKYC Channel 3 News Cleveland
