[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E885-E886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING KENNETH L. MADDY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY A. CONDIT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 1999

  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good friend 
and honor a lifetime of dedicated public service.
  Ken Maddy is a political legend in California's great Central Valley. 
A Republican in a largely Democratic district, Ken understood early 
what many of us have yet to learn about bipartisanship. Like the 
freeway which funds down the middle of the Valley bearing his name, Ken 
cuts through the political heart and soul of the Valley.
  As we pause to honor him on the occasion of his retirement after 28 
years, I am reminded of his very unique leadership style. Ken 
skillfully forged a niche of consensus in finding solutions that proves 
leadership transcends political parties.
  To call Ken's style unique, is not to fully do it justice. Every once 
in a while someone comes along bringing a little something `extra' to 
the table. Though it isn't tangible, it is nevertheless very real and 
it helps define leadership ability. Ken Maddy personifies that.
  The Central Valley is a truly unique political arena. We pride 
ourselves on independent thought. We are proud of our ability to see 
beyond party labels and ideologies. Mr. Speaker, in large part, it is 
because of Ken's leadership that this thinking is prevalent today.
  His dedication as a public servant is exemplary. Equally impressive 
is his list of accomplishments. Throughout his career, Ken authored 
more than 400 bills which were signed into law.
  His vision and foresight put him on the front lines of legislative 
battles ranging from ethics for state legislators to crime; private 
property rights to reducing the scope of governmental regulations on 
agriculture; and balancing land use against legitimate environmental 
concerns.

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  Ken was also often on the cutting edge of health care issues such as 
Medi-Cal and Welfare Reform, free-standing cardiac catheterization 
labs, surgi-centers and most recently, the Healthy Families Act.
  Because of his love and expertise of horse racing, Ken has virtually 
rewritten the horse racing law in California--writing more than 45 
bills that were later adopted into law on the subject.
  I know he is proudest of the very significant and lasting 
contributions he made in helping establish the California Center for 
Equine Health and Performance and the Equine Analytical Chemistry 
Laboratory at the University of California, Davis.
  It is with great pride that I report to my colleagues that UC Davis 
officials named the building in his honor. Additionally, he was awarded 
the California State University Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this 
year.
  One of the most telling signs of political maturity is acceptance and 
recognition by your peers. For three years, Ken served as Chairman of 
the Senate Republican Caucus before serving eight years as Republican 
Leader. He's a text-book case on ``how to make things happen while 
serving in the minority party.''
  Ken was awarded the Lee Atwater Minority Leader of the Year Award in 
1992 by the National Republican Legislators Association and is a six-
time delegate to the Republican National Convention from 1976-1996, 
including two terms as an RNC whip in 1976 and 1984.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to rise and join me in honoring the 
lifetime achievement of a great man--my good friend, Ken Maddy.

                          ____________________