[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 65 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HONORABLE WILLIAM H. NATCHER

                                 ______


                               speech of

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 1994

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is with a feeling of high honor that I 
rise to pay tribute to the late Bill Natcher of Kentucky.
  This great man, great humanitarian, astute legislator, gentle 
grandfather, is sorely missed by this body which he served for more 
then 40 years. His devotion and diligence as he went about the business 
of the Nation, and the business of his constituents, will never be seen 
by the Members of the House of Representatives again. When Bill Natcher 
was born, and when he died, they broke the mold.
  To his friends and family in the Second District, and his home town 
of Bowling Green, I extend my most sincere condolences on their loss. 
To those of us who remain behind in this Chamber, I extend condolences 
also--for we will never see the like of him again--and we will never 
have his good counsel, his leadership, or his friendship ever again.
  Mr. Natcher used to tell a story about when he first arrived in the 
House as a freshman Member. He said that he looked out over the entire 
body, and saw 434 other Members, and realized that they were, everyone, 
his senior in the House. He said he wondered if a sufficient number of 
them would ever retire, resign, suffer defeat for reelection, or 
whatever--so that he could gain the seniority he knew he would have to 
have in order to make a difference for the people he lovingly came here 
to do well by. And then he would say that, after 40 years, he had 
finally risen to a position of seniority on his beloved Appropriations 
Committee--one step away from being chairman.
  I am so happy for him that finally, he rose to chairman of the House 
Appropriations Committee, and I know that in so doing he realized his 
freshman dream. Yet during all the years that he worked toward being 
senior enough to chair that committee, he achieved just as much for his 
beloved Second District of Kentucky as if he had already arrived at his 
final senior post. Bill Natcher didn't need seniority to serve the 
people who elected him to office. He had only to be here, learn the 
rules and the ropes--a job he more than relished, but one he 
accomplished with humanity and great heart.
  We have our memories of Bill Natcher the able appropriations 
chairman, the good friend, the personal mentor. And I know that all of 
us have fond memories of encounters with this grand old man as he 
tenaciously banged the gavel to bring order out of the chaos the House 
could often create. The House depended upon him to keep good order in 
trying times as the House conducted its business, and he took that 
responsibility very seriously, using an iron fist in a velvet glove.
  I have read the tributes given by his friends, his colleagues, in 
this body during the special order. I am in awe of so many descriptive 
words and phrases so lovingly used to describe the same man. I saw 
where he was called, deeply knowledgeable, sharp, keenly intelligent, 
kind, distinguished, able, devoted, diligent, dutiful, tenacious, 
compassionate, humble, fair, tough, warm, respectful, courtly, decent, 
reverent, civil, honest, forthright, confident, discrete, dignified, 
man for the ages, a man of steel, a gentle man and a gentleman, family 
man, patriotic, and always trustworthy.
  Bill Natcher was, of course, all those things and more.
  I look forward to the publication and public access to his journals--
40 years of priceless memories of our times. A treasure trove. The most 
coveted words you could hear from him would have been: You'll do OK in 
my journals.
  As many of my colleagues have noted, I would be honored if I am 
mentioned in those journals--even if I didn't, as Mr. Natcher put it, 
do OK. It was a privilege to have Bill Natcher's undivided attention, 
even if you wished afterwards you hadn't, especially if you were on his 
wrong side.
  I miss him, I know we all do. We can never become another Bill 
Natcher--but we can try. We can, each and every time we enter this 
Chamber, or go before the appropriations committee, or write a letter, 
or visit with our constituents--ask ourselves: What would Bill Natcher 
do? Then do it.

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