[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E565-E566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MALACHI GOFORTH--STALWART, ACTIVIST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, 
Henderson County, Western North Carolina, and the nation lost a truly 
outstanding American, Malachi Goforth. Mr. Goforth dedicated his life 
to serving his community and was tragically killed while helping a 
group of volunteers to repair the Shaw's Creek Baptist Church. Malachi 
served in the Navy during the Second World War, as a Deacon in the 
Shaw's Creek Baptist Church, and as a member of the Board of Trustees 
of the Blue Ridge Community College. He was dedicated to the principles 
of the Republican Party and in 1999 he received the 11th Congressional 
District Golden Elephant award for service to the party. Malachi was 
known for his spirit and energy. Malachi was devoted to the great 
people in his community, as he put in hours of volunteer service. 
Children were one of Malachi's greatest joys. Many kids in Henderson 
County will remember him for putting up lollipop trees in his yard. His 
granddaughter Sally Wooten remembers how children were delighted to see 
Malachi Goforth's white handlebar moustache. In fact during trips to 
the mall at Christmas many children through that Malachi was Santa 
Claus.
  Malachi, on news of his death, garnered much praise from family, 
friends, and community leaders. Consider what the following people said 
in tribute to this great man:
  ``If someone were to say, `show me a man with character,' Malachi 
would be the person you would hold up.'' Henderson County Sheriff 
George Erwin, Jr. ``The whole Republican Party and the Republican men's 
club are gong to miss him. Everytime we had a meeting and you would 
look over that crowd, one of the comforting things that you always saw 
was that face and that moustache.'' Henderson County Republican club 
President, Fielding Lucas. Lucas also praised Goforth for ``always 
being ready to stand up and ask the pointed questions that needed 
asking.'' ``He has been a pillar of this community for decades and he 
will just be sorely missed.'' Henderson County Commission Chairman 
Grady Hawkins. I know that my colleagues will join me in saluting and 
remembering a great man whose death will leave a void that will never 
be filled.

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