[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 130 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9980-S9981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DON GORDON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
career of

[[Page S9981]]

Don Gordon, an outstanding newspaperman, who has retired after a 
distinguished career in journalism. Don served the western Kentucky 
area for 8 years as editorial editor for the Paducah Sun.
  Don was born in Overland, MO, and upon graduating high school, served 
his country in the navy during the Korean war. In 1959, he graduated 
from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism and has 
worked for newspapers ever since. Don has been a reporter, city editor, 
copy editor, and managing editor and has worked for newspapers in 
Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, before coming to 
Kentucky. He and his wife, Zona, moved to Paducah in 1989, to return to 
a part of the country they love.
  Don's interest in writing began at a very early age, and during his 
school days he was involved in printing neighborhood news and sports 
sheets. In the years when Don first became a professional journalist, 
it was very rare for a reporter to be credited with a byline. However, 
a series of articles Don wrote covering a murder trial so impressed one 
of his first editors, that he was given a byline for his good work. 
This was only to be the first of many instances in which Don's work was 
to be recognized by his peers. While reluctant to mention such things, 
he has won awards for best editorial from the Kentucky Press 
Association and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for journalism.
  ``Excellence'' is the word that best describes Don's work. Day after 
day, he consistently brought public issues into perspective by 
combining a mastery of the written language and knowledge of a variety 
of subjects, both local and national. He was a newspaperman's 
newspaperman.
  Retirement in Don's case does not mean that he will be inactive. 
After 41 years of marriage, he and Zona will now have the opportunity 
to travel. The West and Alaska beckon. The couple also looks forward to 
serving as volunteer missionaries. They are active in Trinity Baptist 
Church, and have been involved in the Gideon Bible Society, and served 
in jail and prison ministries.
  Mr. President, I commend Don Gordon for his outstanding service to 
western Kentucky. He will be missed by friends and coworkers, and just 
as importantly, by his many devoted readers. I ask that you and my 
fellow colleagues join me in recognizing the career of this outstanding 
Kentuckian, and wishing him well in all future pursuits.

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