[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8841-H8842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
              TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HONORABLE JOEL PRITCHARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Granger). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Metcalf] 
is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness and sorrow that I 
rise today to note the death last week of former Congressman Joel 
Pritchard, a man deeply respected and admired and liked by everyone.
  Joel was a rare politician who worked across partisan lines to solve 
problems. He exemplified the qualities that make our system work in his 
40 years in the political system, from 1956 until 1996. Joel went on to 
serve 12 years in Congress. I was still in the State Senate when he was 
our Lieutenant Governor.
  An affable, unassuming politician, Joel will be remembered as a man 
of his word. He believed strongly in term limits, as I do, and kept his 
word to leave Congress after 12 years, even

[[Page H8842]]

when friends and colleagues urged him otherwise.
  Joel believed you do not have to give up your principles to work with 
people and to be pleasant. He said, ``I have always been able to get 
along with people, people I disagreed with, to help find a way out of 
an impasse.''
  I considered Joel both a friend and respected colleague. He will be 
deeply missed, not only in Washington State, but also here in 
Washington, DC.
  Today I would like to pay respect to Joel Pritchard and to send from 
the House of Representatives our sympathy to his family. Joel, you will 
most certainly be missed. I hope that we in Congress can continue to 
work across partisan lines that you so aptly personified in your 
exceptional career.

                          ____________________