[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HONORABLE WILLIAM H. NATCHER

                                 ______


                               speech of

                       HON. THOMAS J. BARLOW III

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 1994

  Mr. BARLOW. Mr. Speaker, in my first term in the House representing 
my fellow Kentuckians living in the First District, I had the high 
honor and very distinct privilege to serve with Congressman William H. 
Natcher who, himself, served the citizens of Kentucky's Second 
District.
  Mr. Natcher loved his people. Mr. Natcher loved the House. Through 
his many kindnesses I came to know Mr. Natcher--as we all did.
  It was a cool spring night about 1 year ago that I flew into 
Nashville, TN, from here in Washington where we had finished the week's 
legislative work. Usually I change planes in Nashville and fly on to 
Paducah, KY--my home town from where I travel out over the weekends to 
meet with my people for the gathering of the information that is 
essential to doing the work in Congress of my 31 county district. The 
First District of Kentucky, as I describe it, is everything west and 
south of Mr. Natcher. Mr. Natcher loved his district. Indeed, a number 
of counties in my district were served by him through successive 
reapportionments. He is loved in my district as he is loved across 
Kentucky.
  This evening I had my car at Nashville and instead of going on to 
Paducah, I headed directly north on the interstate highway from 
Nashville into central Kentucky--the road that as it comes into 
Kentucky goes by Franklin in my district and on to Bowling Green, Mr. 
Natcher's home town. And as I traveled along in the cool darkness, my 
headlights lit up the bumper of a car ahead of me going in the same 
direction, north. As I came up on the car I read a very simple, plainly 
printed bumper sign attached to the car ahead. The sign read: ``I am a 
student at the William H. Natcher Elementary School.''
  Such a simple sign. Such a sign that began to say so much to me as I 
traveled along in the cool darkness, my headlights picking out the road 
ahead, the twists, the turns, the falling away, the rising of my 
journey onward.
  I had only been in the House a few months. Yet in that short time Mr. 
Natcher had so graciously shared his friendship--a veteran of years of 
service. There were no barriers of time nor, indeed, even of age. Just 
a generous reaching out and a warm and friendly welcome to service for 
our people in this House.
  And as I drove the word ``elementary'' began to grow in my mind just 
as a wonderful creation rises up to inspire, from roots to branches, to 
leaves to full beholding flower.
  For indeed, we all are students in Mr. Natcher's school of the 
elements, the basic requirements, the very fundamentals of succeeding 
in the House of Representatives of the American people, succeeding in 
moving with our people, for our Nation--ahead in progress, in peace. 
These were his elements which guide me as they guide the people he 
touched and touches through time:
  Mr. Natcher was dignity.
  Mr. Natcher was respect.
  Mr. Natcher was duty.
  Mr. Natcher was kindness.
  Mr. Natcher was patience.
  Mr. Natcher was forbearance.
  Mr. Natcher was devotion--devotion to the bringing together for the 
continuing crafting towards continually receding goals. Here in the 
House, as we work together, success is measured in the reaching ahead 
toward goals always moving ahead of us. That is the House at its best. 
Mr. Natcher loved the House.
  I remember now some of Mr. Natcher's words which I will treasure and 
pass on in my life:
  ``I hear what you are saying.''
  ``I understand.''
  And my favorite for its unique Kentucky wisdom for rich living:
  ``Now come on up to my office and we are going to put the clock in 
the drawer and talk.''
  Mr. Natcher was pre-eminent in the House in his knowledge and 
appreciation for the rules of parliamentary procedure--rules that have 
been crafted through time to bring harmony out of chaos, to bridge 
differences so that we can keep in column, moving ahead--together. For 
a great Nation. For America.
  We address the chair in debate. Because, on occasion, tempers can 
flare and an impartial pillar for the focus of our argument helps to 
keep the peace.
  And in the world we live in, the crack of the gravel sure beats the 
crack of the gun. Life continues.
  In his months as chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the 
House, Mr. Natcher led us in an historic turning, reaching out to all 
sides of party, beyond the rancor and divisiveness, a turning for 
America towards discipline, towards renewed strength, towards a 
rededication of our great Nation and our families, a rededication to 
the very qualities of living the truly good life which were rooted so 
firmly in him. All his years of service before his chairmanship were, I 
do believe, his special preparation for his leadership in this turning 
of the wheel and the setting of our Nation on this new and vital 
course. We shall continue now.

  I remember now Mr. Natcher with the words of the 23rd Psalm:

     The Lord shall prepare a table before me in the presence of 
           my enemies.
     He anoints my head with oil.
     My cup runneth over.
     Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my 
           life.
     And I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

  In my youth I would picture this scene from the Bible in militant 
pageantry. A David and Goliath mural. But in my time in Congress, I 
have come to an understanding that the biblical word ``enemies'' has 
the fuller and richer and deeper connotation of people in their 
differences.
  The table is the place for nourishment--spiritual, physical, mental--
in a setting of dignity. A place of peace.
  And as we come to discourse on our differences in the setting of the 
Psalm for the sake of our nourishment, the Lord shows His special favor 
for our labors, each one of us as children of God here on earth, in our 
daily lives, by anointing our heads with oil, by overflowing the 
bounties of our vessels or nourishment.
  I do believe that this passage from the Bible serves us in all our 
gatherings, not just in the House, but in gatherings of family and 
friends, in towns and cities--wherever people gather together, wherever 
there are--and there are and always will be--differences.
  Mr. Natcher labored well. We know that.
  The annals of the House will show for future generations that 
goodness and mercy did indeed follow from him and his labors for us.
  And, surely, surely as he has now passed from our presence, he shall 
dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

                          ____________________