[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RICHARD HENRY LEE ``DICK'' KOPPER, 1948-2001, A JOURNALIST, A PRESS 
                  SECRETARY AND A FRIEND IS REMEMBERED

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2001

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 2, 2001 in the historical 
federal courthouse where a consummate young reporter named Dick Kopper 
gained his reputation for accuracy, integrity and style, many of his 
friends and admirers gathered for his memorial service. They laughed 
and cried together in his honor and memory.
  Prominent citizens from law, government, journalism and academia came 
to remember the unique life and times of a brilliant journalist, press 
secretary, friend and associate who loved life and who was loved by all 
that came to know him well. They remembered a man of unfailing honesty, 
of incurable curiosity and a keen sense of humor.
  For more than 6 years, Dick Kopper served as my Press Secretary, but 
he was much, much more than that. He was a valuable resource. If I 
needed to find a quotation from Sir Winston Churchill or President 
Ronald Reagan--I would simply ask Dick. If I needed sound policy advice 
on a difficult decision pending before the House--I would ask Dick. 
Even if I needed to know where a semicolon went instead of a simple 
comma--I would always ask Dick. His institutional knowledge 
consistently amazed me.
  As I said at the memorial service, if you knew Dick you would know 
that he loved Episcopal High School, The University of the South, The 
Chattanooga Times and it's reporters, the Republican Party and this 
great nation. He read, he wrote and he ran (3 miles or so) virtually 
every day. He also loved to tell stories, do impersonations and he 
especially loved to talk politics.
  Before joining my Washington staff in 1995, Dick was a reporter for 
The Chattanooga Times for 23 years. During the time that he covered the 
federal courts, many of his colleagues fondly remember Dick making his 
way through the courthouse--extremely tight lipped--so as not to let on 
to his latest story.
  Dick's extensive political knowledge was also useful in the 
successful 1994 campaign of Senator Fred Thompson--where he served as 
the Tennessee Press Secretary.
  Even at the end, Dick was courageous and unselfish. He knew that his 
illness was serious but he downplayed its effect on his life. Before 
going into the hospital, he worked every day and insisted to many 
people that if the doctors hadn't told him that he was sick, he would 
not have known it. He was a professional in every sense of the word. 
Dick's spirit was inspiring and his grace was impeccable.
  He was indeed, a unique (and some might say eccentric) person, but in 
my opinion the world needs more folks like Dick Kopper . . . colorful 
and full of joy. I will miss my good friend.

                          ____________________