[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 32 (Friday, March 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO KENNETH EUGENE GRUBE

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
great journalist, but more important, a good friend: Kenneth Eugene 
Grube of Groton, Connecticut. Sadly, Mr. Grube recently died at the age 
of 76.
  Ken Grube worked for 44 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, and 
he spent the last 25 years of his career in Southeastern Connecticut at 
The New London Day, where he was a managing editor and the long-time 
editorial page editor.
  While he was at The Day, he was renowned for his emphasis on local 
topics, but he earned a regional and national reputation for his work. 
He served as President of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors 
and the Connecticut Circuit of the Associated Press. He was also a 
longtime member of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, and he 
edited the group's quarterly publication and served on its Professional 
Standards Committee.
  In recognition of his outstanding career of newspaper achievement, he 
received the prestigious Yankee Quill Award from the New England 
Academy of Journalists.
  The strong reputation that Ken Grube earned was based not only his 
journalistic talent, but also on his good will and commitment to 
serving his community.
  In 1976, the New London County Bar Association gave him its award for 
outstanding public service. People don't necessarily think of 
journalists as public servants, but Mr. Grube showed an uncommon 
devotion to his community and he used his position to affect social 
change.
  During his 15 years as editorial page editor, he would consistently 
focus on a particular topic, often on behalf of the poor and less 
fortunate, writing editorial after editorial until he had achieved the 
ends that he thought were best for his community and its people.
  He also spent a great deal of his time away from the newspaper 
working with various organizations in the New London/Groton area. He 
was President of the Family Service Association of Southern New London 
County. He served on the board for Waterford Country School. And he 
helped found the local Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund.
  He was also Chairman of the State Freedom of Information Commission, 
which is fitting because he was one of the leading journalists in the 
state who fought to pass a state law that would protect the 
availability of public information.
  But aside from his many accolades and accomplishments, Ken Grube will 
be remembered as a newspaper man with a huge heart who genuinely cared 
about his readers. Everyone in town knew him, and he could often be 
seen in the restaurants and pubs in town striking up conversation with 
whomever was around. For Mr. Grube, the most exciting stories didn't 
come from City Hall or the Capital, they came from Main Street. He 
believed that the primary role of any good reporter was to note the 
everyday events in people's lives, and he stayed true to this principle 
through his entire career.
  Ken Grube performed countless good deeds in order to lift up others, 
and for that, we thank him. He was also a kind man and a good friend, 
and for that, we will miss him.
  He is survived by four children and four grandchildren. I offer my 
heartfelt condolences to them all.

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