[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2254-E2255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOE KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 1998

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, Evans County, Georgia certainly has its 
share of outstanding citizens.
  Perhaps because in Evans County people still take very seriously 
things like God, patriotism, and civic responsibilities.
  And so, among so many outstanding citizens, it gives me particular 
pleasure to pay tribute today to one of Evans County's own who never 
failed to live up to those standards--Joe Kennedy, loving father, 
devoted husband, political leader, and outstanding Georgian.
  Born and raised in Claxton, Joe spent his whole life dedicated to 
serving his fellow citizens in public life.
  He was the kind of elected official people always felt was working 
for them, for Joe was a guy who, over a period of 40 years in public 
life, always seemed to be truly happy to help people in any way he 
could.
  He seemed happy to help because he was.
  He enjoyed serving people, and he was so very proud of his 
participation in a profession that he believed to be a noble. one.
  If Joe were alive today, he would surely be astonished that some 
people are even asking the question of whether character matters.
  What an absurd question, and he could not conceive of why anyone 
might even suggest that a man's integrity was not the most important 
consideration of all.
  A veteran of the U.S. Army, Joe served with distinction in the Korean 
war and received numerous decorations for his service, including

[[Page E2255]]

the Bronze Star, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Medal 
with two battle stars in the Korean war.
  After being honorably discharged in June 1953, with the rank of 
captain, he returned to his native Georgia and began to build a life 
for himself and his family.
  In 1996, Joe was elected to the Georgia Legislature, serving District 
4 in southeast Georgia.
  He went on to represent that district for a total of 24 years, 24 
years in a position where he set the standard for being responsive to 
his constituents.
  Although fiercely proud of being a Democrat, and proud of his 
conservative credentials, Joe was not a partisan.
  His loyalty was to a better Georgia for all citizens.
  This came before party or politics.
  He loved nothing more than finding a way to achieve his goals while 
obscuring the source of the credit.
  But we must give credit where credit is due, and the state of Georgia 
is marked in many ways by his legacy of accomplishments.
  The highway running through Claxton to Interstate 16, a section of 
which now bears his name, was expanded to four lanes as a result of his 
efforts.
  Joe was behind the construction of the Claxton Regional Youth 
Development Center, an activity employing 30 people.
  The determined perseverance of Joe Kennedy was also behind the 
Southeast Detention/Probation Center, the Ogeechee Technical Institute, 
and the Claxton Seniors Citizens Park--institutions which provide a 
service to Georgians and which employ hundreds of our citizens.
  And Georgia Southern University obtained its university status in 
great part as a result of Joe's persistent efforts to improve the 
higher education opportunities that would be available to southeastern 
Georgia students.
  The list of his accomplishments is long, and they are, indeed, the 
visible reminders of his legacy.
  But to the people who knew him, and who loved him, those are not the 
things that will bring a wistful smile to our faces when we recall his 
memory.
  As a young man, Joe soon earned a reputation for being a man of his 
word.
  As he rose in power and influence, that never changed.
  To Joe, honesty was simply the way to do business, and he would never 
sacrifice the trust he had earned for some short-term advantage.
  Joe did not win every election he entered, but he did win the hearts 
of the people who knew him best, and his performance during his race 
for lieutenant governor validated the high opinion we had of him.
  Slick out-of-state consultants with briefcases full of dirty tricks 
never worked for Joe Kennedy.
  He was straightforward to supporters and opponents.
  After the polls closed, Joe accepted the decision of the voters with 
the same quiet dignity that has been characteristic of his rich, 
extraordinary life.
  He still had his integrity and he still had a passion to serve his 
fellow Georgians.
  Joe went on to occupy other high positions in the Georgia State 
government, and to his last days he did what he loved most: talking to 
people about public policy issues and finding out how best to solve the 
political problems that confront us all.
  He brought that enthusiasm to his last position in government as a 
member of the Georgia Board of Regents.
  How fitting it was to learn that on the day that God had decided was 
his time, Joe was speaking to the downtown Rotary Club of Statesboro.
  He was doing what he loved right to the end.
  He will be dearly, dearly missed.
  God bless you, Joe Kennedy. To his beautiful wife Lalah, children 
Debra, Cliff, and Adam, to all of his in-laws, grandchildren, and 
relatives, thank you for sharing him with us.

                          ____________________