[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8240-H8244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING PROFOUND SORROW FOR DEATH OF INDIANA GOVERNOR FRANK O'BANNON
AND EXTENDING THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, AND CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS,
AND LOVED ONES
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 369) expressing the profound sorrow of
the House of Representatives for the death of Indiana Governor Frank
O'Bannon and extending thoughts, prayers, and condolences to his
family, friends, and loved ones.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 369
Whereas Frank O'Bannon devoted his entire life to public
service and to the people of the State of Indiana;
Whereas Frank O'Bannon dedicated his life to defending the
Nation's principles of freedom and democracy, serving in the
Air Force from 1952 until 1954;
Whereas Frank O'Bannon served 18 years in the Indiana State
Senate and 8 years as Lieutenant Governor of Indiana;
Whereas, on November 5, 1996, Frank O'Bannon was elected
the 47th Governor of the State of Indiana, where he served
until his death on September 13, 2003;
Whereas Governor O'Bannon was a true friend to Indiana, and
a gentle man of integrity, kindness, and good works; and
Whereas Governor O'Bannon will be remembered as a loving
husband to his wife Judy, and a devoted father to his 3
children and caring grandfather to his 5 grandchildren: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) has learned with profound sorrow of the death of the
Honorable Frank O'Bannon, Governor of Indiana, on September
13, 2003, and extends its condolences to the O'Bannon family,
especially to his wife Judy, his children Jonathan, Jennifer,
and Polly, and his grandchildren Beau, Chelsea, Asher, Demi,
and Elle;
(2) expresses its profound gratitude to Frank O'Bannon for
the services that he rendered to the Nation in the Air Force,
the Indiana State Legislature, and as Governor of Indiana;
and
(3) recognizes with respect Frank O'Bannon's integrity,
steadfastness, and loyalty to the State of Indiana and to the
United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Burton) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I met Frank O'Bannon, our now-deceased Governor, I met
his father back in the late 1960s when I served with his father in the
Indiana State Senate. His father was editor and publisher of a
newspaper in Corydon, Indiana; and he was one of the finest men I ever
served with. He was a real gentleman. Even though we had our
differences, Governor O'Bannon's father was a wonderful man.
Mr. Speaker, we know a lot about people by their children. And
although I knew Senator O'Bannon, Governor O'Bannon's father, very
well, I was not sure about what kind of family man he was. But then I
met his son who became Senator after his dad retired, and Senator Frank
O'Bannon was also one of the finest men I ever served with in the
Indiana State Senate. His brother, Bob, who is a businessman in
Indianapolis, is also fine man. We know a lot about people by their
children, and Governor O'Bannon was a wonderful man, and I am sure his
mother was a wonderful woman as well.
Governor O'Bannon was revered by everyone who knew him, whether it
was a Republican or a Democrat. He was a very fine public servant, a
man who really cared about his fellow man and his civic
responsibilities. He learned that from his father and mother and worked
hard in both the Indiana State Senate and as Governor.
Although we had political differences, I always admired him because
he was a man of honor. If he gave you his word, you could take it to
the bank. He always said what he meant, and he meant what he said. We
are going to miss him in Indiana.
I will tell one little anecdote. Senator O'Bannon sat directly in
front of me when I was a freshman when he was a State Senator. I was
seated on the Democrat side, and he was the minority leader for the
Democrats in the State Senate. He was such a nice guy we would kid each
other. One day I said, Senator, you are such a nice guy and so
intelligent and you read papers, I know you can read, I do not know why
you do not become a Republican. And he turned around and looked at me
without batting an eye; and he said you
[[Page H8241]]
have the same qualities, I do not know why you do not become a
Democrat. That was one of the more interesting and funny anecdotes I
remember about Governor O'Bannon.
He was a wonderful man. We are going to miss him in Indiana. I wish
his wife the very best. I know she is suffering a great deal, as well
as the rest of his family right now; but I hope that Judy O'Bannon is
doing well, and we wish her the very best. She and her family have our
prayers.
{time} 1530
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, Governor O'Bannon was in my congressional district when
he passed away. Certainly I would want to extend on behalf of all of
the people in Chicago and the people of Illinois our sympathies to his
family and to the people of Indiana.
Mr. Speaker, Frank O'Bannon, the 47th Governor of Indiana, died last
week at the age of 73 from a stroke. After serving 18 years as
Lieutenant Governor to Evan Bayh, Frank O'Bannon was elected Governor
of Indiana November 5, 1996, and was reelected on November 7, 2000.
Frank O'Bannon's two inaugurations as Governor made history. After he
was elected in 1996 he invited Indiana's fourth grade history students
to witness his inauguration, something no Governor had ever done.
Despite sub-zero temperatures that day, hundreds of Hoosier
schoolchildren for the first time ever watched as their Governor was
sworn in.
After his 2000 reelection, Governor O'Bannon repeated his invitation
to the fourth grade history students. This time, however, the
festivities were moved inside the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. More than
25,000 students and visitors from across Indiana watched as the
Governor was sworn in, making it the largest gubernatorial inauguration
crowd in Indiana history.
Although Governor Frank O'Bannon was sometimes criticized by other
lawmakers for not being more assertive, he followed his own instincts
for achieving consensus quietly. Born on January 30, 1930, in
Louisville, Kentucky, Frank O'Bannon devoted his entire life to public
service and to the people of the State of Indiana.
Education, health care, building communities, promoting public safety
and economic development are the hallmarks of Frank O'Bannon's legacy
as Governor of Indiana. He taught those fourth grade students a
valuable lesson in leadership, integrity and good works.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my
colleague, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).
(Mr. Souder asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share a few thoughts about
our Governor from Indiana for people outside Indiana who are not as
familiar with him.
The past few days have been an outpouring of grief and almost a
celebration with the O'Bannon family about our Governor that is
different than anything I have seen in Indiana politics. It is partly,
I think, a transition of an era. Frank O'Bannon represented a different
part of politics when it was not quite as, how would you say,
aggressive, it was not quite as negative. He was a friend to everyone.
Even when we had differences it was a different type of relationship.
He came from the little town of Corydon, which was our State capital.
As you would look at it, it would be a picturesque vision of what
Indiana was when we started in southern Indiana and moved to the north.
And Indianapolis in the north has now the bulk of the population and
the bulk of the power, but Corydon still represents kind of old
Indiana.
When he ran his campaign, no matter who his opponent was and no
matter what kind of campaign they ran, he ran a Hoosier-roots type of a
campaign. You would see him and his wife on their porch in Corydon. You
would see him talking with his grandkids. You would see him talking and
sending a different signal than often is put forth in politics. It was
a symbol of comfort much like Governor Bowen used to have, saying in
Indiana we may not be flashy, we may not all have blow-dried hairdos,
we may not be as slick as other people, but we are going to produce
good, honest government that is going to continue to move Indiana
forward.
We are in a period of transition. And, interestingly, this man whose
family was deeply rooted in early Indiana history and whose father had
been a public servant, in addition to his normal public service he
realized that Indiana was in this transition period. And while we
sometimes disagreed on how best to do it, I think one of the things he
will most be remembered for is his commitment to education at a time
when Indiana is struggling with funds, like everybody else, and we have
limited funds in education, to take those education funds right now and
concentrate them on getting kids able to read by age 3.
He understood that if Indiana was going to move forward, whether you
had the old Indiana or the new Indiana, whether you were kind of a
comforting grandfather figure like he has been in Indiana, or a young
slick politician coming up, if we did not have basic education in
Indiana we weren't going to be able to compete with the States around
us and around the country.
He and his wife have a tremendous legacy of preserving Indiana
landmarks of many different things. But I think his effort to make sure
that all kids can read will be one of his major legacies and also his
legacy of how a public servant should be in relationship to other
members of his party, of other parties, and to the people of Indiana.
That is why we are seeing this extended outpouring of grief because we
are worried that the Nation is changing and we are losing the type of
values that Frank O'Bannon brought to government.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
Governor's Congresswoman, the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson).
Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Chicago and certainly my colleague from Indiana for bringing forth this
resolution today in tribute to a young man whose service to his family,
to the State of Indiana, and to this Nation is unsurpassed.
The Governor just 3 weeks ago met the President at the airport in
Indianapolis when he came out to Indianapolis for disaster relief, and
the Governor had just hosted the National Governors' Association there.
Frank O'Bannon was the type of guy who gave of himself, who lived for
a cause, not just because.
Frank O'Bannon even in death contributed his organs so that somebody
else may have a quality of life. Since his passing, I was telling his
wife yesterday, I spent an enormous amount of time with the widow,
``Wouldn't it be great if Frank from on high could hear all of the
attributes that are being given to him now that he did not hear when he
was living?''
Unlike many other Governors in the United States, he came under a
great deal of pressure because of the economic crisis that Indiana
faced, a problem over which he had no control and had nothing in fact
to do with it. But time and time and time again he came under a heap of
criticism for Indiana's woes. I think he reminds all of us that even
though we may not have control over something, it is unjust, it is like
man's inhumanity to man, to heap that kind of pain and frustration on
an individual who had done so much in improving the lives of the people
in the State of Indiana.
I remember when Frank O'Bannon first decided he wanted to be a
Governor. I was a member of the Indiana State Senate along with him.
And because Evan Bayh decided he too wanted to be the Governor at that
time, Frank O'Bannon in his own genteel way stepped aside and allowed
our now junior Senator to become the Governor of Indiana and Frank
yielded to become the Lieutenant Governor in the State of Indiana. I
was telling his wife yesterday that fate had undoubtedly orchestrated
that, because he was not Governor just for 8 years, he was almost
Governor for 16 years. He served as Lieutenant Governor for 8 years and
almost completed 8 years as Indiana's Governor.
Frank O'Bannon served over 6.15 million people and he served them
well.
[[Page H8242]]
Politics, economic situations, religious denominations all paled under
Frank O'Bannon's leadership. Today is a very difficult day for me,
because I had so much respect for Frank O'Bannon, but then I remember
the words of Ecclesiastes that reminds us that there is a time for all
things.
Frank O'Bannon, I suppose, could have continued to suffer, but God
would have it another way. Danny, your hospital took great care of our
Governor. I want to thank you and your hospital for that. They had one
of the best neurosurgeons that this country has right there at Chicago
hospital. So I want to thank you and yours. And certainly to Judy
O'Bannon, who has been a yeoman throughout this ordeal, who has been
very stately, like a stateswoman throughout the pain that she and her
family endure, my heart, my prayers go out to Judy, to Jennifer, to
Polly and to Jonathan. I know in due time that pain will pass but
precious memories never fade into eternity.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to share with my colleagues and with the Nation
just a glimpse of what Indiana has been going through in recent days.
Last week our Governor Frank O'Bannon, a gifted and gentle man on
loan from God, suffered a massive stroke while hard at work for
Indiana. Through the week, as he lay stricken, we thought of him,
remembered him, worried about him and prayed for him. Then, on
Saturday, we lost him.
My Governor, ``Frank'' as everyone called him, was a kind and
intelligent man of great substance. A gifted man with many choices
before him, he made a selfless choice: to spend a lifetime in public, a
lifetime in service.
Now in public life, as we know--borrowing a bit from James Taylor--
`we see fire, we see rain, and sunny days we thought would never end'.
Our duty is serve our way through, keeping the people and the
responsibility ever in mind, looking again to reach those sunny days.
For My Governor, it was ever so. The sunny days were many--his work
in our Senate, as our Lieutenant Governor, and as Governor the last
6\1/2\ years, saw great leadership and many sunny days, great
prosperity and great progress, turning finally to fire and rain, as
economic suffering reached Indiana and the blame was laid at his feet.
Through it all, Frank never stopped working for Indiana, knowing, as we
all do, that we would reach sunny days again.
As we know, too, public service can be lonely, wearying at its worst.
As he soldiered on, this fine man absorbed the dismay, the frustration,
the anger. Wherever I was, I spoke to him each week, not so much as our
Governor but as a man I had known many years, whose friendship I
treasured and whose commitment I admired, to remind him not to be
ground down, that his commitment was a wise one, that sunny days would
come again. And he returned the favor, with good counsel about the
heart of public service.
He is gone now, recalled in a way. Indiana is in good hands, but we
shall miss him greatly.
To My Governor, our ``Frank'', our prayers on the way. And, to Judy,
ever his active partner and helpmate, to the kids, Jennifer, Polly and
Jonathan, it is my prayer that your precious memories of all that was
so fine will help to sustain you through these mysterious days and
hours of our farewell.
Frank
You can do an article about Governor Frank O'Bannon, but
you can't do it justice, not in any language I know. But I
have to try.
In the prefaces of The 1600 Killers and Slander and Sweet
Judgement, the two volumes of my memoir, I wrote: ``One of
the principal and principled inspirations for this work was
the Honorable Frank O'Bannon, forty-seventh governor of
Indiana. He, his wife Judy and his lieutenant governor, war-
hero Joe Kernan, brought a refreshing wholesomeness and down-
to-earth wisdom to the people of Indiana, of whom I am
privileged to be one. The headline on The Indianapolis Star/
News story that reported Frank's 1996 Election was, `Nice guy
finishes first.' Amen''
The name of our dearly departed governor is O'Bannon, but
his face was not ``the map of Ireland;'' it was the map of
Indiana. His voice inflections, the twinkle in his eyes, the
generous smile made him the personification of all that is
good in what we call Hoosier.
An old cake ad read and said, ``Nobody doesn't like Sarah
Lee.'' Noboby didn't like Frank. And nobody doesn't like the
superlatively eloquent Judy.
Several years ago, Hoosier Congressman Pete Visclosky was
seated inside a banquet hall, awaiting the arrival of the
principal speaker, the slightly behind schedule, then-Lt.
Governor Frank O'Bannon. Suddenly, someone told Pete that his
nearly octogenarian father had slipped and fallen on the ice
outside. Pete rushed to his father's side and found Indiana's
second highest elected official helping the elderly man to
his feet.
We use the word ``gentleman'' over and over, but how often
do we stop to realize what it means? A gentleman is a man who
is gentle and the heroine of the play Love is a Many
Splendored Thing, declares, ``There is no greater strength
than gentleness.'' By that definition and declaration, Frank
O'Bannon was a person of towering strength. John F. Kennedy
said it: ``Civility should not be confused with weakness.''
Michel Eyquem de Montaigene wrote, ``Sit ye never so high
upon a stool, yet sit ye but upon your own tail.'' Frank
intuitively knew, felt and lived this. He was no big shot. He
did have a stuffed shirt, though, stuffed with a warm, caring
and giving heart.
Hoosier journalist William Miller Herschell asked, ``Ain't
God good to Indiana?'' When I think of Frank O'Bannon, I know
the answer.
Andy Jacobs, Jr.,
Former Member of Congress.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from the Eighth District of Indiana (Mr. Hostettler).
(Mr. HOSTETTLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. HOSTETTLER. I thank my colleague from Indiana for yielding me
this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues from the great State of
Indiana in extending our thoughts and prayers to the family of Governor
Frank O'Bannon during this difficult time. I have had opportunities to
work with Governor O'Bannon over the last several years and have come
away with several impressions. First, Frank was a public servant,
committed to working tirelessly on behalf of Hoosiers from Michigan to
the Ohio River. Second, when working with the Governor on issues such
as the completion of Interstate 69 through Indiana, he proved himself
to be a visionary and a leader, willing to address tough issues head-
on, to do what is best for the entire State. Finally and most
importantly, Mr. Speaker, Governor O'Bannon was in every circumstance a
gentleman. In an era of declining civility, Frank stood out for his
warmth, his comity and good humor.
I ask my colleagues today to lift the O'Bannon family up in your
prayers that they might derive strength and joy from God even as they
pass through these most difficult days. Mr. Speaker, I urge immediate
passage of this resolution.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).
(Mr. VISCLOSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, it is with genuine sadness and a very heavy heart that I
rise today in support of the resolution in honor of Indiana Governor
Frank O'Bannon. Governor O'Bannon, as was mentioned, tragically passed
away this past Saturday. I also want to extend my deepest sympathy,
prayers and offer of assistance to Governor O'Bannon's wife Judy and
their children and family.
One of the finest opportunities my career in politics has given me is
meeting, working with and becoming friends with Frank O'Bannon. Frank
was one of the most gentle men, one of the most decent men and one of
the kindest individuals I have ever, ever met in my life. He is a man
who could have been successful at any pursuit in life. He chose a life
of public service because it was a life he could give to others. Except
for his love for Judy and their children and their family, nothing was
more important to Governor O'Bannon. His commitment to the future in
children was foremost as far as his administration. And because Frank
O'Bannon always knew who he was, he allowed his quiet demeanor and
gentle nature to mask his inherent strength and ability to make very
hard and very tough decisions for the good of all of the citizens of
Indiana.
Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues have mentioned anecdotes and
we all deal with individuals on a personal level, and I would add my
two. Many years ago when Frank O'Bannon was first campaigning for
Governor, I was at St. Mary's Orthodox Church hall in Gary, Indiana, at
a political rally. Someone came in and said my father had fallen on the
ice and snow outside. I go outside, Dad was perfectly fine, but there
was Frank O'Bannon because
[[Page H8243]]
he was near my father. There was nothing more important to Frank at
that moment in time and if it took all night he was going to make sure
he was up, he was fine, he was cleaned off and he got in that hall, no
matter what his other demands were.
The other continuing recollection I have is I tried not to impose
upon the Governor's good nature or offices very often but whenever I
called for assistance, he never said he would do it. He never said yes.
He always said, ``I'll see what I can do.'' And invariably the problem
was solved, someone was helped or the State of Indiana moved ahead
because you knew he was always going to do his best.
Frank O'Bannon was a good, good man. We are all going to miss him not
only in our State but in this great country.
{time} 1545
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).
(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I have been very moved by the comments of my
colleagues today, and I also rise to express, as this resolution
suggests, the profound sorrow of the House of Representatives for the
death of Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon.
I was greeted by my wife, Karen, as I returned from the grocery store
Saturday. She, with tears in her eyes, told me simply that Frank had
died. And throughout last week, along with tens of thousands of
Hoosiers, our family labored in prayer, not so much on behalf of a
Governor as we did on behalf of a friend, because that is what Frank
O'Bannon was to tens of thousands of Hoosiers.
I will never forget years ago, long before I entered public life,
chatting with Governor Frank O'Bannon about the State of Indiana, and
his face virtually lit up as he said, you do get to feel that you know
somebody in every little town in this State when you do this job.
I always had the feeling for Governor Frank O'Bannon that Indiana was
a small town, if not even a family, and it did not matter what our
politics were, that was 8:00 to 5:00 with Frank O'Bannon. After 5
o'clock we were Hoosiers, and we came together and on so many
occasions. I remember, with great fondness, his intense interest in me
and in my family and in my children. He had this unusual quality, that
I have reflected on with my colleagues from Indiana, of making everyone
else in the room feel that they were more important than him. Even when
he was the highest elected official in our State, he had a quality of
humility that will always remain for me a standard in public life.
In closing, I just add, as the gentlewoman from Indianapolis, Indiana
(Ms. Carson) said, the Good Book gives us comfort in time of loss, and
I think of those verses in Micah, chapter 6 verse 8. It says ``In what,
O, man, is required of you but this: To do justice, to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God.''
When I look at the public career of Frank O'Bannon as a man, a State
senator, a Lieutenant Governor, a Governor, a husband, a father, a
grandfather, he was a man who did justice, who lived and loved
kindness, and who walked humbly, in a way that will ever inspire this
public servant to do likewise. To Judy and the children, to Governor
Kernan and Maggie, our condolences and our prayers.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished Democratic whip.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois, and I
thank the other gentleman from Indiana for bringing this resolution so
quickly to the floor. I join my Indiana colleagues.
I knew Frank O'Bannon pretty well. I was asked by the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) in 1995 to serve in the capacity of the liaison
to the National Governors' Association and to the Democratic Governors'
Association, and I, therefore, know firsthand the loss that the Hoosier
State has sustained and the loss of this extraordinarily popular
Governor, who presided over great change and progress in his State. Our
Nation, as I think the last speaker indicated so well, has lost a model
public servant and citizen.
A few years ago when I served as the House liaison, I had the
pleasure of working with Governor O'Bannon, both on issues that were in
front of the Congress and on politics, and I can confirm what so many
have written and said about him. He was a wonderful, intelligent, kind,
and humble gentleman who, along with Judy, worked tirelessly for all
Hoosiers and who cared deeply about his country and his State.
It is noteworthy, I think, that Governor O'Bannon never lost a
political election. Democracy is an extraordinary process, and the
people's wisdom is what makes it so great because they choose well.
They choose different types of people, and we contend politically, but
I am always impressed with how well, ultimately, they do choose. But it
is telling what his last opponent David McIntosh, a former Member of
this body said about him. This is somebody who ran against him, ran a
hard campaign, an extraordinarily able young man. He said this:
``Everywhere I'd go, people would say to me: `How are you going to run
against someone who is everyone's grandfather?' And it was the truth,''
David McIntosh said. ``He was a congenial guy that everyone liked.''
After serving 18 years in the Indiana Senate including 8 as
Democratic floor leader and 8 as Lieutenant Governor and more than 6
years as Governor, Frank O'Bannon pulled off a rare feat in politics:
He was both effective and well-liked. However, his gentle nature is not
his only legacy. His many accomplishments, as the colleagues from
Indiana know better than I do or others, include creating a community
college system, adopting of academic standards that are among the best
in the Nation, extending health insurance to nearly half a million
children, and engineering an overhaul of the State tax system to entice
business to Indiana and to relieve property tax owners.
There is no doubt, Mr. Speaker, that Frank O'Bannon lived life to the
fullest, graduating from Indiana U, where he played basketball, serving
in the Air Force, practicing law, and working as a newspaper publisher
in his native Corydon. And there is no doubt that we are fortunate for
his service. I am pleased to join my colleagues in lamenting for
ourselves, for Indiana, and for our country the loss of this
extraordinary individual and being joyous in the fact that, as a man of
faith, he is better off, and joyous in the fact that we had the
opportunity to know him and to work with him and to know that his State
and country were better for his life.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Chocola).
(Mr. CHOCOLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support with my colleagues
of this resolution with great sadness and great respect. This certainly
is a sad day for all Hoosiers when we learned of the passing of our
Governor, Frank O'Bannon. Although I have served in Congress for a
short period of time, and my personal experience with Governor O'Bannon
has been limited, I have great respect for the man he was and the life
he lived.
One did not need to know Frank O'Bannon very well to know what kind
of a person he was. He had the rare ability to project his sincerity
and his genuine nature to all that he came in contact with.
And those who knew him well, regardless of their political
affiliation, were unanimous in their praise and respect for the man and
his character. I think we are seeing a great example of that today.
I consider it my loss that I did not have a greater opportunity to
work with and learn from Frank O'Bannon, and certainly the entire State
of Indiana will miss him and his lifetime of public service. But in the
end, we are all fortunate and grateful for the example he gave us and
thankful for his legacy of leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I know I speak on behalf of all my constituents in the
2nd District of Indiana when I thank Frank O'Bannon for his service to
our State, and our thoughts and our prayers are with his wife, Judy,
and his entire family.
[[Page H8244]]
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill).
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I have been most impressed by the quality of
remarks that have been talked about here this afternoon, most impressed
about the sincerity of the remarks that have been made here this
afternoon. I believe that it demonstrates the quality that Frank
O'Bannon had and that he transcended politics. Both Republicans and
Democrats admired him and respected him and loved him. They may have
had differences, but never lost the respect.
I have known Frank O'Bannon for over 20 years. He was one of the
first people that I ever became acquainted with in politics. His home,
where his wife and his children were raised, is in Corydon, Indiana, a
town that is in the 9th District, in my district. I have been to his
house, stayed all night with him, loved him and admired him and
respected him, and we miss him in Indiana. For the last week we have
mourned our great Governor, but in the next couple of days we are going
to celebrate the life of Frank O'Bannon and the many accomplishments
that he had.
Probably the greatest accomplishment in his life was the fact that
one could be a nice guy and get elected to the highest office in
Indiana. Good guys can finish first, and Frank is a perfect example of
that.
I wish many people and Members of Congress could have witnessed the
class that the First Lady of Indiana demonstrated to the people of
Indiana and to this Nation. She really held her strength and
demonstrated that, while she could mourn, she could remain strong for
the people that she loved in Indiana.
We are going to miss Frank O'Bannon, but I am convinced of one thing:
He has a one-way ticket to heaven, and I hope to join him there
someday.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time. Therefore, I urge swift passage of this resolution, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Let me just end by saying that in the 1997 inauguration speech, Frank
O'Bannon made some very poignant remarks that I think are appropriate
at this time. He said: ``Life is no brief candle for me. It is sort of
a splendid torch which I got hold of for a moment, and I want to make
it burn as brightly as I can before turning it over to future
generations.'' Frank O'Bannon did just that, and we all miss him, and
we wish his family the very best, and they are in our prayers.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, today, we pay tribute to Governor Frank
O'Bannon--a statesman, loving husband and father and a friend to many.
A loyal servant of Indiana for over 30 years, Frank O'Bannon lived
life as a country gentleman, with an unassuming strength to hold to his
convictions to lead a State but more important, a deep and endless
devotion to family.
The life of Frank O'Bannon is one to look at with inspiration and
thanks. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Judy, their three
children--Jonathan, Jennifer and Polly and their 5 grandchildren.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 369.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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