[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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TRIBUTE TO L. RICHARDSON PREYER, FORMER NORTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN AND 
                                 JUDGE

 Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. President, I rise today to note with sadness 
the death of a truly great North Carolinian and a great personal friend 
of mine, Richardson Preyer. Richardson Preyer succumbed to cancer on 
April 3 at the age of 82 after a long and productive life serving the 
people of North Carolina.
  Many of you may remember Richardson Preyer from his distinguished 
service in the House, but I'd like to share with you today a few things 
you may not know about this truly inspirational North Carolinian.
  Rich Preyer left his native Greensboro, NC as a young man to attend 
college at Princeton University and law school at Harvard. He served 
honorably in World War II, earning a Bronze Star from the Navy for his 
courage at Okinawa.
  After the war, Rich could've chosen a lucrative career in the family 
business, Vick Chemical, or made his mark and fortune in any number of 
fields. Instead, he dedicated his life to public service, and went on 
to become one of the finest, noblest servants of the public good my 
state has ever known.
  Richardson Preyer began his career in Greensboro as a municipal court 
judge before rising to the state Superior Court bench. In a landmark 
1957 decision, Judge Preyer courageously upheld a ruling that allowed 
five African-American children to attend an all-white Greensboro 
school. This marked the first time that black and white children would 
learn together in a Greensboro school.
  Rich's courage and his absolute respect for the law and for people 
caught the eye of President John F. Kennedy, who named him to a U.S. 
District Court judgship in 1961. Judge Preyer stepped down in 1963 to 
launch an unsuccessful bid for Governor.
  Now, the early '60's were a contentious time in this country, 
particularly in the South. Many people speculated that he could win the 
governor's race if he would just denounce school integration, but 
anyone who knew Richardson Preyer knows that he could never compromise 
his principles for victory.
  An unabashed optimist, Rich turned his loss into opportunity. Four 
years after his defeat, he ran for Congress. Congressman Preyer went on 
to serve the people of North Carolina's 6th District for 6 terms, from 
1968 to 1980.
  As a member of Congress, he won the respect of both Republicans and 
Democrats for his dignity, intelligence and integrity. He chaired the 
House Select Committee on Ethics, crafting the Congressional code of 
ethics. He also served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations, 
helping to investigate the deaths of President Kennedy and Martin 
Luther King Jr.
  Congressman Preyer left the House of Representatives in 1980. He and 
his wife Emily returned home to Greensboro, where they continued to 
touch the lives of so many in their community and in their state. I am 
personally grateful to Rich for encouraging me during my Senate 
campaign in 1998.
  Richardson Preyer was truly a blessing to those of us who knew him, 
and to all the people of North Carolina. We will miss him deeply. Our 
prayers go out to his family.

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