[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 150 (Tuesday, December 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: December 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                TRIBUTE TO DONALD J. ``COOTIE'' MASTERS

 Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, there are thousands of weekly 
newspaper editors in the United States. I have met many of them in my 
home State of South Dakota. These editors contribute more than 
publishing the community paper. Few of the ones whom I have had the 
privilege of knowing have contributed more or had a greater impact on 
me than my hometown paper's editor and publisher, Donald J. ``Cootie'' 
Masters.
  More than the publisher of the Humboldt Journal and a leader in our 
community, Cootie Masters was a true South Dakotan. He took great pride 
in his work, his family, his community, and his faith. As the editor of 
our local newspaper, Cootie was part of the lives of thousands of South 
Dakotans. I don't know whether Cootie ever really understood his 
positive impact on us. He was an example and inspiration to many South 
Dakotans.
  Cootie had a great impact on my life. He had been a member of the 
State legislature. He was a man of letters. He was a mentor of mine in 
many ways. I always kept in touch with him, even when I was serving in 
Vietnam, studying at Harvard Law School, and later at Oxford University 
as a Rhodes scholar. At my swearing-in ceremony to the U.S. Senate, 
held at the Humboldt High School gym, Cootie was the master of 
ceremonies.
  Cootie passed away in October. I want to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to him.
  Cootie was born on July 7, 1906. He spent his life in Humboldt near 
the farm where I grew up. His Humboldt upbringing and strong family 
ties instilled in him a deep respect for traditional values. He 
graduated from Humboldt High School in 1924 and went on to attend the 
University of South Dakota. In 1924, it was quite an accomplishment for 
a young student from a small town to attend college. This was to be 
only the beginning of Cootie's many accomplishments.
  In addition to his studies at the University of South Dakota, Cootie 
participated in basketball and became a fraternity brother in Delta Tau 
Delta. He demonstrated at a young age the importance of life of social 
involvement and a balance between intellectual and physical pursuits.
  After Cootie graduated from college, he became involved in the family 
business. His father owned and operated the Humboldt Journal and began 
passing on his business knowledge to Cootie. Cootie's father died 
suddenly in 1936, leaving Cootie as the sole owner and editor of the 
Journal. Anyone in family business will tell you that the successful 
passing on of a family business to the next generation is much more 
difficult than most people think. Cootie was not only successful at 
taking over the Journal in 1936, he was successful in operating it 
until well after his retirement.
  Cootie's life involved much more than his newspaper work. He 
contributed to the whole State of South Dakota by serving in the 
legislature as a representative from Minnehaha County from 1936 to 
1941.
  Cootie balanced his successful business and political career with 
devotion to his family and friends. On June 12, 1933, Cootie married 
Mildred Newton. Cootie and Mildred had three sons: Neal, Tom, and Bob. 
Today, the Masters family includes 7 grandchildren and 11 great 
grandchildren. I know Cootie considered his family to be the most 
precious blessing in his life.
  Aside from his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, what 
may have kept Cootie young for so long was his robust enjoyment of 
life. After college, he continued to participate in baseball and 
basketball. An avid sportsman, Cootie enjoyed fishing and hunting. He 
certainly picked the right State to enjoy the great outdoors.
  What is most impressive about Cootie is that with all of his public 
activities, he was always described as a man without an enemy.
  Cootie was a true friend to me, to our community, and to our State. I 
always will remember him fondly.

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