[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H2982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO CHARLES PETER THOBAE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BRADY. Today, Mr. Speaker, America lays to rest an excellent 
journalist and a better father. It was with great sadness that the 
friends of Charles Peter Thobae learned that he had passed away Monday, 
May 4, in Houston, Texas.
  A journalism graduate of Boston University, Charles was a reporter 
with the Houston Chronicle for 11 years and an editor of the Texas 
Churchman for 25. Believing in faith and his community, he served on 
various charitable boards and was a very active member of Palmer 
Memorial Episcopal Church.
  During his 40 years in public relations, he did free-lance writing, 
including traveling, writing, and op-ed pieces for both the Houston 
Post and the Chronicle. Recently, Charles Thobae also reviewed books 
for the Chronicle, specializing in contemporary history, military 
affairs, and sometimes thrillers.
  David Langworthy, who is the Chronicle's Outlook editor, remarked, 
``He had an eye for the human and the personal. He was able to put 
those personalities into prose that brought our readers insights that 
were valuable.''
  His family is a special one. He was born December 9, 1930, in New 
Rochelle, New York, to Kathryn and Albert Thobae. He is survived by his 
beloved wife, Miriam Banks Thobae; his beloved daughters, Frances 
Kathryn, Sarah Banks, and Carol Ellen Thobae. He is also survived by 
his mother, Kathryn Thobae of Dennis, Massachusetts.
  His daughter, I have had the pleasure of working with her in my 
congressional office. She recently said of her father, ``He remained 
dedicated to people, the literary world, and religion his whole life. 
Everybody who knew him loved him, and he made a profound impact on 
everyone's life.''
  We celebrate his life and mourn his passing today.

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