[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 25 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE DEATH OF DAN MANGEOT

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, millions of people watch the Kentucky Derby 
because it is a spectacular moment of chance.
  When the 123rd Run for the Roses takes place May 3, that's what the 
spectators will see--a riveting 2 minutes when anything can happen. 
What they won't see are the thousands of small details that go into 
making that moment one that goes down in sport's history.
  While thousands of people work to make the Kentucky Derby and the 
festival events a success, Kentuckians know that for the past 17 years 
one man has stood out in his commitment and drive to nailing down every 
last derby festival detail.
  That man was Dan Mangeot, the Kentucky Derby Festival's long-time 
president. He died in February, leaving behind a legacy and equally 
important, many, many devoted friends and colleagues.
  Described by some as a ``legend'' and by others as a ``father 
figure,'' Dan did the impossible. He took a legendary event and somehow 
made it even better.
  Under his management, attendance at derby festival events doubled to 
1.5 million, while the economic impact on the community grew from $17 
million to $53 million.
  When Dan decided to focus on something, the outcome was inevitably a 
huge success. Whether it was selling more derby pins--going from a few 
thousand a year to 600,000 a year--or instituting a derby festival 
poster--a regular award winner--he knew how to deliver.
  But Dan was about more than ringing up financial successes. He knew 
how to create a sense of community ownership in an event. Every year 
the entire community not only had a sense of pride in the festival 
activities surrounding the derby, but a stake in seeing them succeed.
  Dan couldn't imagine doing things differently. Community ownership 
translated into a board of directors truly representative of 
Louisville's diversity. And when it came to awarding contracts, he 
worked to ensure that minority-owned firms weren't shut out.
  It's true the derby is about the fastest horses in the world. But for 
Kentuckians it's also about showing the world the Commonwealth at her 
finest.
  And thanks to Dan that's what the world saw.
  Mr. President, let me close by expressing my deepest thanks to Dan's 
family for sharing such a great man with us. I know I speak for all 
Kentuckians when I tell Dan's family how very sad we are for their 
loss.

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