[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 35 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H1282-H1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN MEMORY OF THE LATE GOVERNOR MIKE O'CALLAGHAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, last week, with the passing of Governor 
Mike O'Callaghan at the age of 74, Nevada lost a giant who helped shape 
our State's history, Las Vegas lost one of its most compassionate and 
articulate voices, and I lost a friend and someone who was like a 
second father to me.
  When I first met Mike, I was a 19-year-old college student in Las 
Vegas. At that time, I was student body president of UNLV, and for 
whatever reason, Mike O'Callaghan saw something in me that I did not 
even see in myself. He became my mentor and a trusted friend. Of all 
the giants in the State of Nevada, he was head and shoulders above them 
all, and I have never known a finer man in my life.
  Born Donal O'Callaghan on September 10, 1929 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
Governor Mike, as he was affectionately known by all that knew him, was 
a member of the greatest generation. Raised on a farm during the Great 
Depression, he joined the Marines at 16 and served with the Pacific 
Fleet as an anti-aircraft gunner from 1946 to 1948. After ending his 
active duty in 1948, Mike served in the Marine Corps Reserve until 
1950. And then he joined the Air Force as an intelligence operator and 
was assigned to the Aleutian Islands. In 1952, he joined the Army 
infantry so that he could serve his Nation in Korea. It was during this 
conflict he earned a Silver Star, a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star 
with a V for valor.
  According to an official Army account from February 1953, and I 
quote, ``While his company was being subjected to a barrage of heavy 
artillery from Chinese Communist forces during a night attack, Sergeant 
O'Callaghan was informed that men on an outguard post had been cut off 
by this enemy action. Immediately, he voluntarily exposed himself to 
enemy fire, located the men, and brought them, together with a wounded 
member, safely back to the trenches.''
  After taking a direct hit in the leg by a mortar round, Mike made a 
tourniquet out of telephone wire and continued to direct the firefight 
for the next 3 hours. As a result of these wounds, his left leg was 
amputated below the knee.
  After military service, Mike attended the University of Idaho, and in 
1956 he graduated among its top 10 graduates. He then moved to a small 
community in Nevada by the name of Henderson where he taught high 
school economics and history and coached boxing. It was as a teacher 
and a coach that Mike came to know a young man named Harry Reid, who 
now serves as a distinguished senior Senator from the State of Nevada 
and that body's assistant minority leader.
  Mike also served as Las Vegas' chief probation officer and as 
director of Nevada's Health and Welfare Department. Later that year, he 
moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as Job Corps Conservation Centers 
program management director, a position he held until 1966.
  Despite being labeled the underdog, Mike ran for Governor of Nevada 
in 1970. His hard work and record of service ultimately propelled him 
to an unexpected victory. Four years later, he earned the respect and 
admiration of even those who did not give him a chance the first time 
and he rode a wave of popularity to the polls and was reelected to a 
second term. He remains to this day the choice of many Nevadans who, 
when asked, will say he was our Nation's and our State's greatest 
Governor.
  Throughout his 8 years in office, he was a hands-on leader and a 
relentless champion for those he served. He was known to make surprise 
visits to prisons, mental hospitals, and other State-run institutions, 
and could often be seen eating in the cafeteria so he would know 
firsthand what life was like for those in those facilities.

[[Page H1283]]

  As Governor, he fought for fair housing, civil rights, disadvantaged 
children, prison reform, and to protect the unique beauty of Lake Tahoe 
and aid for workers injured on the job.
  After his career in public service, he went on to become executive 
editor of the Las Vegas Sun, where he used his column to draw attention 
to a wide array of causes and concerns that he continued to care about 
long after leaving office.
  Mike was a deeply, deeply religious man, who attended church on a 
daily basis. He was known as much for his works of charity as he was 
for his political victories. If you were a millionaire or if you were 
homeless, Mike treated you with the same dignity and respect. He was 
legendary for his efforts on behalf of those who were down on their 
luck.
  He also shared a deep interest in international affairs. He made 
countless trips to Israel to support the Israeli defense force. He was 
called upon to visit Central America to promote democracy and worked 
for fair elections in the nation of Nicaragua. He repeated his role in 
northern Iraq in 1992, helping observe free elections for the Kurds in 
that divided nation.
  While he will be remembered for his lasting contributions as Governor 
and coach and newspaper executive, his greatest legacy was his family: 
his wife of nearly 50 years, Carolyn; his five children, Michael, Mary, 
Teresa, Brian, and Timothy; and his 15 grandchildren.
  There are literally thousands of Nevadans and people around the world 
whose lives have been touched by this extraordinary man. He was one of 
my best friends, one of my closest friends. I will miss him as if he 
were my father, and I share the loss with his family.
  While Mike will long be remembered for his lasting contributions as a 
Governor, teacher, coach and newspaper executive, perhaps his greatest 
legacy is the O'Callaghan family, which includes Mike's wife of nearly 
50 years Carolyn, his five children Michael, Mary, Teresa, Brian and 
Timothy and his grandchildren.
  There are literally the thousands of people in Nevada and around the 
world whose lives were touched in different ways by the efforts of Mike 
O'Callaghan.
  As communities across southern Nevada mourned the loss of this great 
figure last week, endless personal stories about Mike and his many 
deeds filled memorial services, the airwaves and the pages of the 
newspaper. So many stories and so many lives, all touched by this 
humble, hard working, hard-nosed man with a heart of gold.
  The State of Nevada is a far better place because of Mike O'Callaghan 
and he will forever be remembered as a man whose life was defined by 
his service to our Nation, his devotion to his family and friends, his 
rock solid religious beliefs, his steady leadership as Governor and his 
love of the underdog.
  As one newspaper columnist put it, ``Mike O'Callaghan believed heart 
and soul in the family of man. He has gone away, but we'll hear his 
voice for a long time to come.''
  While another wrote: ``Although the word `hero' is tossed about 
lightly these days, I can honestly say that Mike O'Callaghan is the 
only true hero I've ever met, and I count myself fortunate for the 
honor.''
  I also count myself among those lucky enough to have known and loved 
this great man and to have had the honor to call him my friend. Mike, 
you will be missed, but you will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________