[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3632-S3633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HAPPY BIRTHDAY EUDORA WELTY

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today one of my State's most famous 
citizens of all time celebrates her 90th birthday. Eudora Welty is 
known around the world as a writer of enormous talent and 
accomplishment. She has lived for most of her life in Jackson, MS, and 
she enjoys a level of popularity in our State that a politician can 
envy but not match.
  I invite the attention of all Senators to the May issue of Vanity 
Fair which contains a toast to Eudora by my friend and fellow 
Mississippian, Willie Morris.
  In today's edition of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, an article 
describes other activities that will be taking place in our State to 
honor Miss Welty on her 90th birthday.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of that newspaper article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Clarion-Ledger, April 13, 1999]

  Morris' Tribute to Welty in `Vanity Fair'--Magazine Article Honors 
            Jackson Writer on 90th Birthday; Celebration Set

                           (By Billy Watkins)

       Eudora Welty, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author from 
     Jackson, turns 90 years old today.
       To help commemorate the occasion, fellow Mississippi author 
     Willie Morris wrote a 4,000-word story about Welty for Vanity 
     Fair magazine's May issue, which is on newsstands now. Morris 
     calls it his ``toast to Eudora.''
       ``And I all her Eudora because she's been my friend since I 
     was a little boy,'' Morris says. ``I very strongly support 
     the idea that she is the greatest living American writer. 
     She's full of wackiness and humor and loyalty to her friends. 
     She's just so generous. Always has been.''
       Morris will participate in a tribute to Welty 5-7 p.m. 
     today at Lemuria Book Store in Jackson. Although Welty will 
     not be able to attend, Morris, along with Mississippi writer 
     Ellen Douglas, will be present at the celebration where two 
     new books will be unveiled.
       University Press of Mississippi will release The First 
     Story, a limited edition reprint of Welty's first published 
     short story, Death of a Traveling Salesman. It includes an 
     essay by Welty looking back at that story. Only 500 
     hardcovers have been printed. They sell for $75 each.
       Hill Street Press of Athens, Ga., will debut Eudora Welty: 
     Writers' Reflections Upon First Reading Welty. It includes 
     essays by Morris, Douglas, Barry Hannah, Reynolds Price and 
     others.
       John Evans, owner of Lemuria, says Welty books still sell 
     well.
       ``We sell a lot to out-of-towners and people who just moved 
     here who know about Miss Welty,'' Evans says. ``And I keep 
     her work stocked. I feel like it's our duty that if somebody 
     asks for something by Miss Welty, we should have it.''
       Morris' piece for Vanity Fair was originally 18,000 words 
     but had to be edited down. ``I was pleased with the way it 
     turned out,'' Morris says. ``I'll include the entire story in 
     my next book of essays, which will come out in about two 
     years.''
       Morris contacted many notable writers--Shelby Foote and 
     William Styron among them--and included their views on Welty. 
     ``I sent out more than 30 letters to people who have known 
     her for years,'' Morris says, ``and I got 100 percent 
     response. I think that ways what people think of Eudora, the 
     fact that they took time to respond.
       ``I really believe most people who love writing will read 
     this story--not because of me, but because of Eudora. She's 
     loved universally. And I was honored to write the story.''

  Mr. DODD. Will my colleague yield?
  Mr. COCHRAN. I am happy to yield.
  Mr. DODD. I just say to my colleague from Mississippi, I commend him 
for

[[Page S3633]]

his statement recognizing the contributions of Eudora Welty. This 
Connecticut Yankee loves her writing. And for my birthday present this 
year I received a first edition copy of one of Eudora Welty's novels.
  I prize and cherish her work. She is a Mississippi treasure, but she 
is also a treasure for this great country of ours. And I associate 
myself with the remarks of my colleague from Mississippi and commend 
him for recognizing this remarkable woman who has made such a rich 
contribution to the literary heritage life of our Nation.
  Mr. COCHRAN. I thank the distinguished Senator very much for that.

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