[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MIKE RHODE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE SKEEN

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note the passing of and to 
pay tribute to Michael Rhode, Jr., of South Carolina.
  Mike Rhode died earlier this year, in May, after a brave bout with 
cancer, only too briefly after he retired from his position as 
Secretary of the Panama Canal Commission. His wife, Lin, worked in my 
congressional office from 1981 until her retirement in 1995.
  Mike Rhode was a close and valuable friend and a talented and 
dedicated public servant. He and Lin planned for an early retirement to 
spend more time with his daughter, Pamela Lister, and two sons, Michael 
and Randy.
  Mike Rhode served as chief of the U.S. Army's Senate Legislative 
Liaison Office in the 1970's. His combat experience in Korea and 
Vietnam was of major help to the Members of Congress he worked with on 
his travels to Southeast Asia. Mike was extremely knowledgeable on 
issues affecting our country's membership to the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization [NATO].
  After 26 years of distinguished and dedicated service to our country 
in the Army, Mike retired to take the position of Secretary of the 
Panama Canal Commission in 1980. Mike was extraordinarily helpful to me 
and several Members of Congress in his position with the Panama Canal 
Commission. He was successful in explaining and analyzing proposed 
legislation and to suggest ways in which the laws governing the 
operation and maintenance of the Panama Canal could be modified over 
the years to ease the transition to Panamanian control by the year 
2000.
  Mike Rhode will be remembered by his family and friends for living a 
distinguished life on behalf of his family and our country. My thoughts 
and prayers remain with his family and friends on his passing. He will 
be sorely missed by us all.

                          ____________________