[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1309-E1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO GEORGE D. WEBSTER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 1996

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, one of the finest men I have ever known, 
George D. Webster, a prominent Washington lawyer, recently passed away.
  Mr. Webster was originally from Rogersville, TN, which is not in but 
is very close to my district. He attended college in my district, at 
Maryville College, and then graduated from the Harvard Law School. 
While he achieved great success in the practice of law, he never forgot 
his roots in Tennessee. He maintained a farm in Hawkins County and was 
one of the strongest supporters of Maryville College.
  While he was a close friend to some of the most powerful and 
successful people in this Nation, he never lost the common touch. He 
was a kind and bighearted man who got along well with people from all 
walks of life.
  Mr. Webster was an extremely hard worker and was nationally 
recognized as an expert in tax law and the law of associations.
  He helped thousands of people in both big and small ways throughout 
his life and career.
  An active, loyal, and dedicated Republican, he was not a man who sat 
on the sidelines. He was interested and involved in the big issues and 
campaigns for many, many years, right up until his last few days.
  He was particularly close to former President Bush, Senator Dole, my 
late father, and me.
  He was a good citizen. He participated and contributed. He loved this 
country, and we would have a stronger Nation today if we had more 
people like George Webster.
  He was a strong family man who deeply loved his wife and children. To 
put it very simply, but very accurately, George Webster was a great 
person and great American in every way.
  Dr. David L. Hale, Sr., pastor of the Rogersville Presbyterian 
Church, delivered a very moving and appropriate eulogy at a service 
held in honor of the life of George Webster at All Saint's Episcopal 
Church in Chevy Chase on June 7.
  I would like to place this outstanding tribute in the Record at this 
point and call it to the attention of my colleagues and other readers 
of the Record.
  This very fine eulogy really captured the essence of George Webster, 
and I hope it inspires others to try to live their lives to the high 
standards by which he lived.

                          George Drury Webster

                    (February 8, 1921--June 3, 1996)

       (I wish to thank the family for the deep privilege and 
     honor of being asked to participate today in this Service of 
     Thanksgiving and remembrance of George Webster. They have all 
     been so kind in seeing to my every need during my short stay 
     in Washington. The room, board and personal chauffeuring have 
     all been gratefully appreciated. I also wish to thank Father 
     Richard Norman for his gracious spirit in helping me to 
     prepare for our worship service in this beautiful All Saints' 
     Episcopal Church. He has been most kind and helpful.)
       First of all, I wish to make a clarification about my name: 
     I am not the David Hale of Whitewater infamy! I am from East 
     Tennessee!
       In this service of worship we seek to find courage and 
     strength from the reading of God's holy Word, from singing 
     hymns of promise and hope, and praying that God will help us 
     as we share together in our loss of George Webster. We will 
     surely miss him.
       George Drury Webster was a special, unique, one-of-a-kind 
     individual. And what a marvelous heritage he leaves for us to 
     appreciate, emulate and nurture! Here was a man who believed 
     in simple values, and transformed them into deep-seated 
     convictions; convictions he held tenaciously and for which he 
     fought most vigorously. There can be no doubt that George 
     Webster fervently loved life, his work, his Country and 
     State, his family and friends, and his God.
       This great Tennessean totally immersed himself in God's 
     good fight of life and made the most of it. George pulled out 
     all the stops! He genuinely enjoyed living in this grand age 
     of challenge and opportunity. He was a vibrant, spirited, 
     robust person, intense and impassioned. Such energy and drive 
     as he exhibited are rarely seen. George was totally involved 
     in every activity of his life. His zest and enthusiasm were 
     contagious and inspired many of us. His work was exhilarating 
     to him. Fiercely competitive, he never gave up. Being around 
     George made the practice of law more exciting than a John 
     Grisham novel!
       George Webster possessed a gifted mind, a keen intellect. 
     He was one who excelled at debate; now--who here is unaware 
     of that! And his lively wit was a delight to each of us. 
     George had a way of being brief, succinct, perspicacious, 
     blunt and to the point. His books are typical examples of 
     that approach. George believed in education and trained his 
     mind at the Rogersville, Tennessee, High School, Maryville 
     College (Some people in East Tennessee pronounce it as 
     ``Murraville'' College!), and Harvard Law School. Yes, George 
     loved life, and brought all of his considerable skills and 
     amazing experiences and opportunities to gain the most from 
     it.
       George Webster loved his work. He was a hard worker who 
     learned quickly. Excellence always beckoned to him and be 
     pursued her relentlessly. He was completely dedicated to his 
     calling and focused on his tasks with singular vision. He was 
     tough, practical, and highly successful. He readily 
     discovered how to use the American enterprise system to serve 
     others and improve his family's life. George became a 
     recognized expert on non-profit tax and trade association 
     law, renowned nationally and internationally. He must have 
     been one of the best organized administrators in history. 
     Yet this truly great man never lost the human tough. 
     George constantly reached out to others to give 
     encouragement and a helping hand. He was a kind and 
     generous man.
       George Webster deeply loved his Country, this great land of 
     America, and was one of America's most loyal patriots. During 
     W.W.II he served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater, where he 
     was involved in some major battles. He left seminary training 
     to go to Pearl Harbor. George relished being in the company 
     of the great leaders of this Nation, and considered it a high 
     honor and privilege to be able to advise and serve them. He 
     rubbed shoulders with those in power and contributed 
     immensely to the betterment of their leadership due to his 
     expertise, friendship and zeal. But George never forgot his 
     roots in Hawkins County and Rogersville, Tennessee. You have 
     to understand such roots to learn how George got from point A 
     to point B. His ancestry consisted of some rather rugged 
     pioneers, also with deep convictions, who eventually pushed 
     their way to the frontier points of this ``New World.'' By 
     the way--he would have dearly loved to invite you to visit 
     the many attractions of the State of Tennessee, especially 
     during the grand Bicentennial celebration this year! George 
     was a true Tennessee Volunteer and would want you to see what 
     affected him so greatly.
       As was true of all of his many endeavors, George invested 
     himself fully in the Republican Party which benefited 
     inexpressibly from his enthusiasm, labors and contributions. 
     He was highly supportive of candidates and incumbents from 
     East Tennessee and other regions, and enjoyed entering them 
     with various socials at his Bethesda home and on his 
     beautiful farm in Tennessee. Many of you present could speak 
     volumes of this beneficence on George's part. You, too, have 
     been helped and inspired by this rare individual.
       George Webster was a proud family man. There is his 
     immediate family: his beloved wife, Ann (``Tutti''), always 
     loyal, supportive and by his side; the children: Aen, George 
     and Beverly, Hugh and deLancey and all of the beautiful 
     grandchildren. George had a special love and pride for each 
     one. And I have grown to love and appreciate this expanding 
     family. I have had the privilege of welcoming them to church, 
     participating in a Baptism service, and visiting with them at 
     the farm on various occasions.
       (And thinking of George's love for both family and life, he 
     would certainly be in favor of celebrating George's and 
     Beverly's tenth wedding anniversary today.)
       There is the family from which George came: the rugged and 
     bright Scotch-Irish, the Northern English Protestants and the 
     Huguenot folk. There were Joseph and Mary Amis Rogers for 
     whom Rogersville is named, and the whole line of military 
     officers, educators, physicians and ministers. George was 
     very proud of his ancestry.
       Then there is the vast, broad, extended family of George's. 
     Who can number them all? There are those who helped in the 
     Webster home; the ones who worked on the farm; and all of 
     the many friends and colleagues he enjoyed at work, in 
     organizations, church, clubs and social circles.
       Finally, George Webster loved his God. He was a man of 
     faith, one who cut his religious teeth on the Presbyterian 
     Catechism; who grew up in the Presbyterian faith and, in 
     Maryland, loved and attended this beautiful All Saints' 
     Episcopal Church. On occasion he would go back to the 
     Rogersville farm and worship in town on Sundays in his home 
     church.
       George's death leaves a huge void in our lives--especially 
     those of the immediate family. Here was a truly remarkable 
     man who walked among us. Overcome by disease, this tireless, 
     loving, human being finally wore out. We are thankful to God 
     that his suffering has ended. But his departure from this 
     earth leaves us saddened and somewhat alone. We need comfort, 
     strength, courage and hope for the facing of this moment and 
     the hours, days and weeks ahead. We have read and heard 
     several passages from God's written Word this morning, and 
     God is the source of our comfort and consolation. From 1 
     Corinthians 15 we find Paul teaching us emphatically that the 
     resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reality, and that death can 
     no

[[Page E1310]]

     longer sting with any finality, that there is an eternal life 
     waiting for us. From Psalm 121 we are assured that God alone 
     is the source of strength that counts in our hard and 
     difficult times: ``Our help cometh from the Lord which made 
     Heaven and earth.'' In Romans 8 we are promised that the love 
     of God will never be separated from God's people in Jesus 
     Christ. Not even death can remove us from the presence and 
     love of God. Psalm 23 reassures us that God is like a 
     compassionate shepherd who is constantly looking out for his 
     sheep, and always sees to the best care of his flock. ``I 
     will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. . .  And I shall 
     dwell in the house of the Lord forever.'' In John 14 Jesus 
     promises that there will be a place for us in His eternal 
     home. And that He will come again to escort us to our new 
     ``mansion.'' George has found his place there in Heaven 
     already. Maybe it will help us to know in our moments of 
     sadness, that someday we too will find our way there to our 
     special eternal room, and rejoin George for a glorious and 
     happy reunion in the presence of God.

                          ____________________