[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1090-E1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SHEL SILVERSTEIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 1999

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the life of Shel 
Silverstein, acclaimed

[[Page E1091]]

children's author. I am deeply saddened that Shel Silverstein passed 
away at the age of 66 in Key West, Florida, on May 10, 1999. We mourn 
the loss of a man whose legacy will be remembered for years to come.
  Mr. Silverstein is best known for his children's poetry, but I think 
it is safe to say that his poetry is enjoyable to adults as well. I, 
myself, am quite familiar with his works, as my daughter Danielle is a 
big fan of his poetry. Indeed, I am sure that many of my colleagues 
would recognize his work which includes Falling Up, A Light in the 
Attic, and Where the Sidewalk Ends.
  Over the course of his career, Shel Silverstein won numerous awards 
for his work, including the Michigan Young Readers Award for Where the 
Sidewalk Ends. His books, which Shel illustrated himself, are packed 
with humor and colorful characters, and sold over 14 million copies 
throughout the course of his life. This is truly a testament to the 
widespread appeal of his work.
  Though books such as the Giving Tree were the catalyst which led to 
Shel Silverstein's international acclaim, few people realize that Shel 
began his career in the 1950s while serving with the United States 
armed forces in Japan and Korea. While stationed overseas, Mr. 
Silverstein began drawing cartoons for ``Stars and Stripes,'' the 
American military publication.
  Apart from his success as a writer of poetry, Shel Silverstein was 
also successful in his attempts to write country-western music. In 
1969, Johnny Cash made the Silverstein-penned tune ``A Boy Named Sue'' 
into a bonafide hit. Loretta Lynn made Shel's song ``Ones on the Way'' 
famous as well. In 1980, Shel even recorded an album of his own called 
``The Great Conch Train Robbery.'' This title clearly shows Shel's 
fondness for his home in Key West, as the title references the car of 
his friend Buddy Owen, owner of B.O.'s Fish Wagon, one of Shel's 
favorite places to eat.
  Mr. Speaker, while Shel Silverstein's passing is a tremendous loss 
for our nation and the world, I can say without hesitation that his 
kindness and generosity will be missed especially by the Key West 
community. He was an extraordinary human being, but we are lucky to 
have so many wonderful memories of his life and work.

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