[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 160 (Thursday, November 6, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H10547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE CORWIN M. NIXON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak briefly about a dear friend 
of mine who passed away earlier this morning. I rise to honor the 
memory of the Honorable Corwin Nixon, a dear friend, a distinguished 
constituent, and an accomplished public servant, who passed away this 
morning in his beloved Ohio at the age of 90.
  He was someone I knew all my life, and someone whose devotion to 
public service was an inspiration to me. He served with honor for 30 
years in the Ohio General Assembly, including 14 years as minority 
leader. Before his election to the State legislature, he served 12 
years as a Warren County commissioner.
  He was probably the most recognized man in Warren County, and 
evidence of the great affection for him can be seen throughout southern 
Ohio. His name is on a Waynesville covered bridge, a Dayton health 
center, and an aquatic center at Miami University. But most 
importantly, Mr. Speaker, thousands of people in Warren County remember 
him fondly and the help he gave them, a family member, a neighbor, or a 
friend.
  Corwin Nixon's life experiences and his extraordinary people skills 
made him an effective representative for all the people in Warren 
County. He grew up on a farm near Red Lion, Ohio, where he continued to 
live most of his life.

                              {time}  2115

  He rose through the ranks to become manager at a Kroger grocery store 
in Lebanon, Ohio, and in the 1950s became the manager of the Lebanon 
Raceway, a job that became his passion as he built the raceway into a 
major regional attraction.
  Corwin Nixon was also an active volunteer, locally, Statewide, and 
nationally. Among his many activities he served on the boards of 
Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati and Grandview Hospital in Dayton. He 
was President of both the U.S. Trotting Association and the 
International Trotting Association. He was an original member of the 
American Horse Council. He was inducted into the Ohio Harness Hall of 
Fame and received the Harness Horseman International Appreciation 
Award.
  He used to say his start in politics ``just happened,'' but it 
happened because of his remarkable work ethic, his genuine concern for 
people, and his ability to deliver for his constituents. His trademark 
in the State legislature was his ability to work effectively on both 
sides of the aisle to achieve results for all people. He was a true 
gentleman who respected everyone and treated them with respect.
  Despite all of his impressive accomplishments in government and 
business, Mr. Nixon's greatest legacy is his family. He and his wife 
Eleanor were married for 45 years before her death. Their two children, 
Keith and Karen, provided them with three grandchildren, Melissa, Tina, 
and Keith, Jr. and four great grandchildren, Corwin Nixon, III, 
Eleanor, Preston, and Austin.
  Mr. Speaker, Corwin Nixon was one of Ohio's great public servants, 
whose accomplishments touched many lives in our area and throughout the 
State of Ohio. He will be greatly missed.

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