[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 8 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         FAREWELL TO A CHAMPION

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I was enormously saddened this past 
weekend to learn of the death of a good friend and fellow West 
Virginian, Ned H. Guthrie, of Charleston. I have known Ned for many 
years, and I am most sincere when I say that without a doubt he was an 
incredible human being. Many in this Chamber who knew Ned Guthrie would 
agree that he championed a cause like no one I have ever known.
  Ned first lobbied me when I was Governor of West Virginia. Of course, 
I already knew Ned through his reputation across the State as an 
accomplished musician, band leader and businessman. As a musician, he 
ran with the best, beginning in the 1920's with John Philip Sousa, and 
continuing on to include Artie Shaw, Louis Armstrong, Harry James, 
Billie Holliday and Jack Benny, to name just a few. His musical career 
spanned well over 50 years.
  I fondly remember the drive and determination Ned gave his commitment 
to the repeal of the Lea Act, and the tenacity with which he pursued 
this endeavor. He finally won his fight when President Jimmy Carter 
signed the repeal in December 1980, and then sent Ned a letter 
congratulating him on a job well done. But after the repeal, there was 
still more to do, and Ned Guthrie was not finished.
  When I arrived in the Senate 9 years ago, Ned was one of the first 
lobbyists to meet with me, then in his capacity as national legislative 
director of the American Federation of Musicians. He was still walking 
the halls of Congress, still waiting in reception areas, cornering 
Senators and Representatives whenever and wherever he found them--still 
fighting for bargaining rights for musicians.
  It is never easy to give up friends and family--people we care about. 
But when we lose someone who fought so hard for that in which he 
believed, often overcoming great odds and adversity, fighting on when 
often sickness and pain would have made it so easy to give up, I can't 
help but believe we have lost more than family and friend. For 
approximately 20 years, Ned has championed the rights of musicians in 
this body, and the lives of musicians will be affected for years to 
come because of this determined and dedicated man.
  Not only do I join his wonderful family, his friends and the State of 
West Virginia in mourning the loss of this outstanding, fiercely-local 
citizen of my home State, but I suspect it will be a long time before I 
meet someone with more perseverance, dedication, and sense of purpose 
than West Virginia's Ned Guthrie.

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