by Gloria Wilson-Gourdin
|
A man among men, a man whom his father must be proud to call son, a loving husband and father, a politician, and a strong youth advocate. This man is Isaac Gourdine, born 1946, in James Island, South Carolina. He is the son of Wesley Edward Gourdine and the former Martha Gallishaw of Summerville, South Carolina. Isaac served in the Army from 1966 to 1968. He received the Vietnam Champaign Medal and was honorably discharged as a Specialist E-4. In, 1973 Mr. Gourdine received his undergraduate degree from Howard University and in 1977 received his Law Degree also from Howard University. Isaac has been happily married for 29 years to the former Mary Simmons of N. Charleston, South Carolina. They are the proud parents of two children -- Monica, an engineer and Lamar a graduate student at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Isaac is serving his first term as Councilman after being elected in 1995 to the Prince Georges County Council. He represents the citizens of Fort Washington; Temple Hill; Oxon Hill; Forest Heights; Clinton and Camp Spring, Maryland. He is chairperson for Health Education & Human Services. Isaac is very involved with various youth organizations he has strong convictions concerning our youth today and is determined to invest some of his time and efforts in helping them to be the best person possible. His advice to young people today is to: 1) "Be careful of the company you keep because it will determine who you will become; 2) "Don't be afraid to try! Always keep trying even when you are knocked down, pick yourself up and try it again; and 3) "Always be polite." Isaac Gourdine is a person who takes pride in his roots and enjoys returning home to South Carolina which happens to be his favorite vacation spot. Isaac believes that there is a force greater than us and we should tap into that force and that force is Jesus Christ. Isaac and his family attends worship services Ebenezer A.M.E Church where they are members. Among the other organizations that Mr. Gourdine are involved or has been involved with are, NAACP; Coalition of Concerned Black Christian Men; the National Bar Association; the Federal Bar Association; and the Washington Bar Association. He is a former Cub Scout Leader at Tayac Elementary School; former Scoutmaster of Troop 487; former President of the Friendly and Lord Baltimore PTA's; and former Vice-President of Maplewood Civic Association. |