[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11837-S11838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN A. DURICKA

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an Associated 
Press article about John Duricka, written by my friend, Jim Abrams, be 
printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Inhofe). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  [See exhibit 1.]
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, John Duricka was not only one of the finest 
photographers I ever knew, but also one of the best reporters of the 
Capitol. His photos will illustrate our history books for decades and 
generations to come. He was a man who suffered greatly in the last few 
months of his life with cancer, but few of us knew how badly it was.
  I had a conversation with him at the beginning of the summer in which 
he talked of going to the Republican and Democratic Conventions. I told 
him I was looking forward to seeing him at ours and would probably be 
asking him for tips on exposures and angles for my own photography at 
that convention. It became too much, and he did not make it there, and 
more is the pity.
  Last week, there was a memorial service for him there. Many spoke in 
eulogies of him. They spoke of a man who always had to get the photo 
but never forgot there were other photographers he worked with. Over 
and over,

[[Page S11838]]

I saw him in a committee room where he would come in--you always get a 
nice smile from him--and I would see him go over, find a great angle, 
take a couple shots, and often, if there was a new photographer there, 
he would point that angle out to him.
  The article that is printed at the end of this from the Associated 
Press speaks far better about him, as I think Mr. Abrams is far more 
eloquent than I, and that is why I want it included.
  I was pleased to see the distinguished majority leader, Senator Lott, 
also spoke about him last week. He well deserves that.

                               Exhibit 1

              [From the Associated Press, Sept. 24, 1996]

                        AP Photographer Praised

                            (By Jim Abrams)

       The Senate and House opened their sessions Tuesday with 
     tributes to AP photographer John A. Duricka, a veteran of 
     Capitol Hill photo coverage who died Monday.
       ``The Senate and all Americans lost a true professional 
     yesterday,'' Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss. ``The 
     measure of John's professionalism and dedication is he was on 
     the job almost up to the time of his death doing what he 
     loved and doing it wonderfully well.''
       Lott spoke of Duricka's ``combination of mature demeanor 
     and tough determination'' and added: ``All who treasure our 
     freedoms of the press and free expression will miss his 
     outstanding contributions to that end.''
       In the House, Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., said Duricka was 
     ``a great friend to me.'' Dreier recalled that he delivered 
     the eulogy at the funeral of Duricka's brother, a 
     photographer at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune who was killed 
     in a plane crash several years ago.
       ``John Duricka was a great man and he took wonderful, 
     photographs and he's one of those institutions in this 
     Capitol who will be sorely missed,'' Dreier said.
       Jonathan Wolman, AP's Washington bureau chief, said: ``From 
     Bobby Byrd to Newt Gingrich, John captured all the great 
     figures of Congress. He illustrated the legislative process 
     with pictures of leaders, lobbyists and hundreds of ordinary 
     citizens who appeared in committee hearings.''
       Duricka was ``a professional's professional,'' Sen. Patrick 
     Leahy, D-Vt., recalled Monday. ``His work was seen by 
     millions who never knew his name. He was a familiar presence 
     on Capitol Hill and I always looked for him among the 
     photographers. He was a friend to many, and he will be 
     missed.''
       Duricka, 58, had a 30-year career as an AP photographer. He 
     was chairman of the congressional Standing Committee of Press 
     Photographers, which represents the interests of still 
     photographers.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence 
of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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