[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 177 (Thursday, November 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             RICHARD SEWELL

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, last Saturday, a memorial service 
was held for a true friend of the State of Florida, Richard Sewell. 
Dick passed away on October 26 of lung cancer.
  A native of Orlando, Dick was well known in Washington and Florida 
political circles. Dick moved to Washington in 1963 to become an 
administrative assistant to Rep. Charles E. Bennett, a senior member of 
the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of the first House 
ethics committee. In 1966, he served as staff coordinator for the ad 
hoc ethics committee and helped Bennett draft legislation which 
resulted in a permanent House Ethics Committee.
  Dick left Bennett's staff in 1971 to become director of public 
affairs for the National Association of Food Chains. In 1972, he 
assisted Senator Henry M. Jackson in his campaign for the Democratic 
Presidential nomination, serving as the campaign's executive director 
in Florida.
  In 1973, Dick became the director of Federal Government affairs for 
Florida Power & Light Co. He remained the utility company's chief 
Washington representative until his retirement due to illness, in 1994. 
He was active in energy, environment, and tax issues pending before 
Congress and Federal agencies, and was the author of numerous published 
articles on the subject.
  In 1986-87, Dick directed FPL's campaign to establish a national 
award to recognize quality performance by American corporations. Partly 
through those efforts, Congress enacted the Malcolm Baldrige National 
Quality Improvement Act in 1987, under which companies compete annually 
for the Malcolm Baldrige Award.
  A lifelong loyal Floridian, Dick was a former president of both the 
Florida State Society in Washington and the University of Florida 
Alumni Club. In 1979, he received the university's Distinguished 
Alumnus Award.
  Dick was a past president of the Washington Business-Government 
Relations Council and the Washington Representatives Research Group. He 
served on the board of directors of the Public Affairs Council and as a 
charter member of the board of governors and treasurer of the Bryce 
Harlow Foundation. In addition, Dick was a former president of the 
Burro Club, an organization of Democratic congressional aides.
  After graduating from public high school in Orlando, he studied 
journalism at the University of Florida. He received his degree in 
1959. From 1957 to 1959, Dick was the sports editor of the Orlando 
Evening Star. After college, he joined the sports staff of the Atlanta 
Constitution. He later moved to Jacksonville, FL, where he opened his 
own public relations firm.
  Dick is survived by his wife, Peggy; their two children, Jane and 
Michael; his mother, Bertie Sewell; and his brother, Walter Sewell. He 
will be sorely missed.

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