[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  2030
 
                  TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JACK BROOKS

  Mr. SARPALIUS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me a 
few minutes. I rise on this occasion to make a few kind remarks 
regarding the dean of the Texas delegation with whom I have served for 
the past 6 years. This individual was first elected to the Texas State 
Legislature in 1946 and then was reelected in 1948 without any 
opposition. He came to the U.S. Congress in 1952 and served here for 42 
years.
  Dean Brooks would have become the new dean of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, but unfortunately his constituents saw otherwise and 
did not recognize the wisdom and the contribution that he gave so 
brilliantly to his constituents and to this country and to the great 
State of Texas.
  I rise tonight really in my last session serving the 6 years that I 
have served in the U.S. Congress. I guess one thing Dean Brooks and I 
will always have in common in Texas is we left this great institution 
at the same time.
  But he is a true leader who has fought hard for the beliefs of his 
constituents, fought hard to keep the high standards in this House, 
fought hard as chairman of the Judiciary Committee for protecting 
children and battered women through the crime bill. He has made many, 
many contributions to this country.
  I can think back. If there is ever an example of a person who truly 
gave of his time and his dedication to this country not only as a 
Member of Congress but also as an individual who served this country in 
World War II fighting overseas to defend and protect the principles of 
what this country represents, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee he 
was truly a leader, and he was truly a leader for this institution. He 
will be sorely missed. We will miss him with his cigar, we will miss 
him with his little twinkle in his eye, and the wit and encouragement 
and the dedication that he gave all of us.
  So as I leave this body, I leave with many regrets and many honors 
that I have had in representing the people of the 13th District. But in 
all of my years I have served the people, in 14 years of public 
service, I can think of nobody that gave more for his constituents and 
for his country and for his State than Chairman Jack Brooks.
  Mr. KOPETSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have the high honor of serving on the 
Judiciary Committee under Chairman Jack Brooks, and I know the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Sarpalius, knows that Jack Brooks was a 
mentor not just to the young members of the Texas delegation, but to 
all Members who had the foresight to go to such a veteran as Chairman 
Brooks and ask for advice. Sometimes he spoke in proverbs and sometimes 
he was very direct, but you always came away learning something, 
clearly appreciating his friendship, his humor, and his commitment to 
the people of his district, to this Nation, and especially to a very 
important document, the Constitution of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to a classmate of mine, the gentleman from 
Texas, Mr. Chet Edwards, for the purpose of honoring Chairman Jack 
Brooks.
  Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for 
the opportunity to just say a few brief words. Along with my other 
Texas colleagues who will be here in January, I hope at the appropriate 
time to add to the very appropriate statements made by my friend. Bill 
Sarpalius, about the dean of the delegation, Jack Brooks.
  Tonight I just want to briefly say goodbye to a dear friend of mine, 
Congressman Bill Sarpalius. Bill and I had the opportunity to serve in 
the Texas Senate for some 8 years where he was a leader in the fight 
for the interests of rural Texas and the rural Panhandle, and above all 
he was a Texas Senator who cared very dearly about the children of 
Texas and made a difference in their lives.
  As a Member of Congress for the last 6 years, Bill Sarpalius has been 
a tireless fighter for the people of the high plains of the State of 
Texas, and I know that they too will miss him and will not stop 
respecting and appreciating the many things that he did for his 
district. But above all, Bill Sarpalius to me represents a role model 
for children throughout this country that come from very difficult 
backgrounds, because Congressman Sarpalius was himself the product of a 
broken home and grew up on the Cal Farley Boys Ranch near Amarillo, TX 
where he did not have an even break and a fair shake as many of us did 
growing up. But rather than bemoaning his circumstances, he pulled 
himself up by his own bootstraps, looked to the future and made the 
best of his opportunities.
  Never would anyone have guessed, I am sure, growing up with Bill 
Sarpalius at the Cal Farley Ranch, that sometime later that tall Texan 
would stand tall in the Texas Senate serving with a distinguished 
career there and then coming and having a great privilege of serving 
the people of his great district and the people of Texas and the people 
of the United States as a Member of the U.S. Congress. Farmers and 
ranchers throughout America will miss Bill Sarpalius, the people of 
Texas will miss Bill Sarpalius, the people of Amarillo and the 
Panhandle will miss Bill Sarpalius, the children of America for whom he 
has given so much of his career will miss Bill Sarpalius, and I as his 
friend will miss my friend, Bill Sarpalius.
  But while he will be gone we will not forget his friendship and his 
commitment to the State of Texas and to the people of the United 
States.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to a great Texan and a great statesman, Congressman Jack 
Brooks. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he lent his powerful 
leadership in such a way that his shoes will not soon be filed. It was 
in this capacity that he sponsored the historic Civil Rights Act of 
1991, legislation which has perhaps done more to restore peace and 
honor to this nation than any other law.
  As the dean of the Texas delegation, Chairman Brooks inspired 
confidence in his fellow Members, and was consistent in bringing 
integrity to the U.S. Congress. Chairman Brooks has been the epitome of 
statesmanship, having served his district, and his country, for more 
than 40 years.
  Chairman Brooks will be missed for his powerful wisdom, extraordinary 
insight into critical issues, and his profound leadership. Chairman 
Brooks will also be missed for his keen wit and timely humor.
  It is difficult, at best, to perceive the Congress without Chairman 
Brooks. As a fellow Texan and the beneficiary of his superb leadership, 
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served with such a 
distinguished American.

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