[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO GARY HURT

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a friend and 
outstanding member of the Missouri Highway Patrol, who is retiring 
after many years of dedicated service.
  You have heard the expression, ``you can bet your life on it.'' That 
was more than an expression for me during the 8 years my family and I 
depended on the Governor's security team. We literally bet our lives on 
Gary Hurt and his colleagues, just as all Missourians bet their lives 
on other members of the highway patrol every day.
  Gary Hurt has devoted 28 years of service to the Missouri State 
Highway Patrol. Of this tenure, 18 years has been spent on the 
Governor's security division, where Gary has served as assistant 
director for 14 years. He learned his craft in the time-honored way, as 
a road trooper for a full decade.
  Gary fought back several years ago from an injury that threatened to 
end his career with the patrol. An injury to his ``gun arm'' required 
two operations, extensive physical rehabilitation and tremendous grit 
to overcome but overcome it he did.
  As Governor, I became very close to my security team members sharing 
every event and most waking hours. I am particularly grateful for their 
patience during the endless hours that, while driving to events, I read 
bedtime stories into a tape recorder for my son, Sam, for those nights 
I could not be home in time to read to him in person. Gary and I have 
shared floods, tornadoes, prison riots, hangings in effigy, election 
night victories and defeats, births, deaths, weddings, budget crises, 
and fiscal triumph. As an aside, one of the weddings we most recently 
shared occurred when Gary's son married a caseworker in my office of 
constituent services.
  I regret that Missouri will no longer have Gary Hurt among its law 
enforcement members, but I am counting on him to continue to share his 
humor, insight, and experience through different avenues. Thank you, 
Gary, and best of luck in your retirement. You have earned the chance 
to do things you want to do for a change.

                          ____________________