[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1375-E1376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               A TRIBUTE TO E.R. ``BOB'' MORRISSETTE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 25, 1996

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Alabama delegation is 
rather small in number, but we are close in mind and heart on many 
issues, often reaching across the political divide, especially when it 
involves a matter of importance to our beloved State.
  That is all the more reason why the death this past Sunday of E.R. 
``Bob'' Morrissette, Jr., a longtime aide to my colleague, Senator 
Howell Heflin, is so difficult to accept. While the Judge has lost an 
important member of his office family, our State, and especially south 
Alabama, has lost one of the most likeable and most decent men ever to 
work in the public arena.
  Bob was 73 at the time of his death and unfortunately, poor health 
had slowed him down a bit during the past few months. But throughout 
his career, first as a journalist, and later as

[[Page E1376]]

a loyal and trusted confidante to Senator Heflin, Bob Morrissette was 
first and foremost a southern gentleman.
  Probably one of the reasons Bob was so good at what he did was 
because of the genuine concern he had for his fellow man. Another 
reason was simply because Bob Morrissette was a man of integrity. When 
he gave you his word, you needed no other assurance.
  Born in Monroe County into one of south Alabama's most prominent 
families, Bob never let the good name or success of his family stand in 
the way of his willingness to provide a helping hand. In fact, that is 
one of the hallmarks of the Morrissette family--they are always doing 
good things to better their community, and Bob carried on that proud 
tradition in countless ways.
  He and Senator Heflin became friends when both were attending the 
University of Alabama in the mid-1940's. While the Judge returned to 
the northern part of the State to pursue a career in law, Bob returned 
home to his native south Alabama and entered the world of journalism. 
His first assignment was a stint at the Baldwin Times in Bay Minette. 
In 1959, he moved to Escambia County to take over the Atmore Advance. 
Bob was owner, editor, and publisher of the Advance for two decades, 
and like so many others who hold this important post in a small town, 
he, too, became a one-man chamber of commerce for his hometown.
  During his career in journalism, Bob received countless awards and 
honors. In 1976, he received the Distinguished Alumnus in Journalism 
Award from the University of Alabama. Two years later he became 
president of the Alabama Press Association.
  In 1979 Bob once again teamed up with his old college pal, Howell 
Heflin, who had just been elected to the Senate the year before. In 
Bob, Senator Heflin knew he had a steady hand at the wheel running his 
southwest Alabama operation. Not only did Bob know south Alabama like 
the back of his hand, but he loved her people and her soil.
  Bob Morrissette was one in a million. Upon meeting you for the first 
time, he made a connection for life. When you called him with a problem 
or concern, you knew it would become his problem and concern. He was 
just that type of human being.
  When he was running for President in 1912, Woodrow Wilson said, 
``There is no cause half so sacred as the cause of a people. There is 
no idea so uplifting as the idea of the service of humanity.''
  Though he held no elected office himself, Bob Morrissette served his 
community, his State, and his Nation as well as, if not better than, 
most men and women who ever place their names on a ballot.
  We're going to miss Bob, and it will be a long, long time before we 
see another man like him. He was truly one of a kind.

                          ____________________