U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. to Speak at Morehouse College Commencement

The Hon. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. ’68 (D-GA, Albany) will be the guest speaker at Morehouse College’s 134^th Commencement on May 20.

The Georgia Congressman, a 1968 graduate of Morehouse, represents residents of Georgia’s 2^nd Congressional District, which covers 29 middle and southwest Georgia counties.

“I count it an extreme honor to call Morehouse College my alma mater,” said Bishop, in accepting the invitation to speak. “For more than 150 years, Morehouse has been molding men for leadership and service in our nation and the world. I am excited and humbled to address the 2018 graduates as I reflect on my own graduation in 1968, just a few weeks after the loss of fellow alumnus, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

The U.S. Congressman will be honored as part of the Morehouse Class of 1968—this year’s “Golden Tigers,” who are celebrating their 50^th reunion.

First elected to Congress in 1992—after serving in both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate—Bishop has held numerous positions of leadership at the community, state, and national levels. He has served on the House Committee on Appropriations since 2003, is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and was a Senior Democratic Whip in the 112^th and 113^th Congresses.

Bishop also served as chairman of a Democratic House Task Force on Homeland Security, was Georgia's representative on the Southern Growth Policies Board, and has been named to “Georgia Trend” magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential Georgians.

Born in Mobile, Ala., Bishop was educated at Morehouse College and the Emory University School of Law. He served in the U. S. Army, and, after receiving his honorable discharge, became the primary partner in the law firm of Bishop and Buckner, P.C.

The Albany, Ga, resident has won numerous awards and honors including: The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America; the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the Georgia Peanut Commission’s “Work Horse” Award; the Man of the Year Award from the Men's Progressive Club of Columbus, Ga.; the Friend of the Children Award from the Child Advocacy Coalition; and commendations from the Georgia Association of Educators.

He is an Eagle Scout, a 33^rd Degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Commencement exercises begin at 8 a.m. on Morehouse College’s Century Campus (the yard between Graves Hall and Harkness Hall). Baccalaureate is Saturday, May 19, at 3 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. The Rev. Michael A. Walrond Jr.'93, senior pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem, New York, will give the Baccalaureate sermon. For more information, visit morehouse.edu/commencement.

For more on Rep. Sanford Bishop, visit: bishop.house.gov/about.

U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. to Speak at Morehouse College Commencement