[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
            W. PAT JENNINGS DIES, FORMER MEMBER, HOUSE CLERK

  (Mr. BOUCHER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to inform my colleagues 
in the House of the death yesterday of W. Pat Jennings, who both 
represented the Ninth District of Virginia--my district--and was the 
Clerk of the House during his service to this institution.
  Pat served the House with distinction and dedication for six terms, 
beginning on January 3, 1955, and ending on January 3, 1967--the 84th 
through the 89th Congresses. Following his service as a Member he was 
elected Clerk of the House for the 90th Congress, and was reelected to 
serve from January 10, 1967, to November 15, 1975, when he resigned to 
head an association here in Washington.
  This tragic death occurred because of injuries Pat received in a 
tractor accident. He was an experienced tractor operator because of his 
life-long work on his family farm, but in a freakish accident, his 
injuries caused his death in the hospital.
  Pat initially served on the House Committee on Agriculture, where he 
championed the interest of the family farmer, the development of the 
national forests located in the Ninth District, and he worked 
diligently to enhance the overall interest of our agriculture economy. 
His sponsorship of legislation to create the Mount Rogers National 
Recreation Area has resulted in the development of a major tourist 
attraction on the east coast. One of Pat's first bills when he came to 
the House provided for the processing of the Nation's surplus wheat and 
corn into four and cornmeal that could be provided to the School Lunch 
Program and to needy families. Subsequently, he supported the 
authorization of the initial Food Stamp Program, and one of the first 
pilot programs was established in the Ninth District.

  As his House career developed, he was elected by his Democratic 
colleagues to the Committee on Ways and Means, where he continued to 
support legislation for the people of the Nation, including the 
Medicare Program. He did not win reelection to the 90th Congress.
  Pat consistently sponsored and supported programs that were planned 
to assist in economic development. This included expansion of research 
to find new uses and new markets for our coal, the Interstate Highway 
System, the Appalachian Highway Program along with its other 
initiatives for people of Appalachia, airport development, flood 
control, and industrial and business expansion.
  In 1967, Pat sought and was elected to the position of Clerk of the 
House, our chief administrative and financial officer at that time. His 
resignation to head the Slurry Pipeline Association kept him in the 
business of promoting new uses for coal. The association's principle 
objective was to see coal slurry moved to markets through pipes.
  Pat loved farming and kept up his farm throughout his life. He was a 
graduate of Virginia Tech and was serving on its board at the time of 
his death. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was 
discharged as a major. He established an automobile dealership in 
Marion, VA, with a friend and partner, and it still operates today 
under the guidance of two sons. He later became active in the U.S. Air 
Force Reserves and retired with the rank of colonel. In addition to 
farming, Pat remained active in civic and Democratic political affairs. 
He served a term on the Virginia Mental Health Board when asked by 
Governor Baliles. Earlier, prior to his election to Congress, he was 
twice elected sheriff of Smyth County; he was a delegate to many State 
and national Democratic conventions and was a former member of the 
Democratic National Committee.
  Pat's love for the House, politics, and farming were legend. But his 
first love was his family. His wife of many years, Ann, four children, 
and several grandchildren and great grandchildren survive. Funeral 
services will be conducted Friday in Marion, VA. Both my office, 
extension 53861, and the House Clerk's office, extension 57000, have 
details, if any of my colleagues would like to contact us.
  Our sympathy is extended to all members of Pat's family.

                          ____________________