[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO ROBERT LAWRENCE COUGHLIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I note the 
death of a former colleague and a great Pennsylvanian, Mr. Robert 
Lawrence Coughlin, Jr., who passed away last month.
  Larry grew up on his father's farm near Scranton, Pennsylvania. But 
he was no farmhand. Making the most of his opportunities, Larry 
graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut in 1946, he received 
an Economics degree from Yale in 1950, a Masters degree in Business 
Administration from Harvard, and a law degree from Temple University's 
law school in 1958. While at Temple, Larry attended classes at night, 
and was a foreman on a steel assembly line during the day.
  This ``steely'' resolve served him well throughout his career. As a 
Marine, Larry fought in the Korean War, and was aide-de-camp to Lt. 
General Lewis B. ``Chesty'' Puller. When he was elected to Congress, he 
was Chairman of the Capitol Hill Marines, which represented Members who 
had been in the Marine Corps.
  Larry was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968. 
He came from a family that had some experience in the field of public 
service as his uncle, Clarence Coughlin, was a former Republican 
Representative. Representing a wealthy suburb of Philadelphia from 1969 
to 1993, Larry was so popular personally and politically, that he was 
almost always easily elected. It wasn't until after he retired that 
Democrats were able to field significant competitors for that seat.
  A tall and authoritative man, Larry always had a way with people. 
With his military background and penchant for bow ties, Larry came 
across--rightfully so--as a gentleman and a scholar. While he briefly 
served on the House Judiciary Committee, he spent most of his career on 
the Appropriations Committee. Although I never had the opportunity to 
directly work with him on the Judiciary Committee, I did work with him 
on several issues. The nation last a good legislator when Larry 
resigned, and on November 30, the world lost a good man.
  It is with a heavy heart that I say good-bye to Larry. My wife Cheryl 
and I would like to express our condolences to his wife Susan, and the 
entire family, in this time of sorrow and sadness. They will be in our 
prayers.

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