Rep. John Lewis Addresses the NAHB Board of Directors

NAHB will long remember Rep. John Lewis as a "friend of the home building industry" during his esteemed career.

In his remarks to the NAHB Board of Directors in Atlanta in 2001, Rep. Lewis commends the hard work of NAHB and industry leaders in helping to make the dream of homeownership a reality for more Americans. He also references his continued support for pro-housing legislation, saying "homeownership is the hallmark of the American dream."

While speaking of his humble upbringing in rural Alabama, Rep. Lewis tells a compelling story from his youth of when he and his family weathered a severe thunderstorm together. He then likens the experience to the need for home builders to "stay together because [they] are the lifeblood — the heart and soul — of the American economy."

"So I say to all of you within this great organization: Never give up. Never give in. Never give out. You must keep the faith. And keep your eyes on the prize."