[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 132 (Wednesday, September 24, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING ROBERT M. LYNCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2003

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart 
that I rise today to pay tribute to Robert M. Lynch, the patriarch of 
one of California's premier publishing dynasties. Mr. Lynch passed away 
Sunday, September 21, 2003 in Sonoma, California with his family at his 
side.
  Bob Lynch was a treasure to our community and to his family. He was 
an old time newspaperman in the very best sense, who used the pages of 
the Sonoma Index Tribune to make his hometown a better place. There was 
nothing he relished more than crusading for the passage of a school 
bond measure, building new ball fields, constructing the senior center, 
the swimming pool at the high school or the boys and girls club. It was 
a role he played for 57 years.
  Bob's grandfather was editor and publisher of the Index Tribune from 
1884-1915. His aunt Celeste took the reigns after that and Bob joined 
his aunt in Sonoma after graduation from high school.
  It was during this period that the newspaper business got into his 
blood but his plans were interrupted when he answered his country's 
call at the outset of World War II. Bob joined the Navy and spent 4 
years in service away from his new bride, Jean and his beloved 
newspaper.
  Bob and Jean purchased the Index Tribune in 1946. During those early 
years, Bob did it all. He was the editor, publisher, reporter, 
photographer and even covered all the sports and society events.
  The paper flourished and grew under Bob's stewardship. One of his 
proudest moments was when his three sons joined the family business. 
This moment was only surpassed this year when two grandsons came on 
board.
  Though officially semi-retired, he still wrote a weekly column and 
all of the obituaries because he knew everybody in town.
  His newspaper won numerous State and national awards during his 57 
years at the helm. He was also recognized by his peers on many 
occasions, most notably as the California Press Association's Newspaper 
Person of the Year for 1989, the California Press Association's Philip 
N. McCombs Achievement Award winner for 2003 and as one of the first 
three people inducted into the Sonoma County Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Speaker, Bob Lynch has had a long and distinguished career in 
journalism and it is appropriate that we honor him today. He has made 
his community a better place in which to live and has passed on his 
passion for the newspaper business to his sons and his grandsons. He 
leaves his wife of nearly 62 years, his sons, six grandchildren, two 
step grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He will be missed but 
his memory will live on forever in the pages of the Index Tribune.

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