[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1278-E1279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MERLE KILGORE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM McCRERY

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 25, 2004

  Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor a living 
legend in the world of country music, who also happens to be a fellow 
citizen of the great state of Louisiana. From singer to songwriter and 
manager to actor, Merle Kilgore has been involved in every conceivable 
facet of modern show business. Throughout his entertainment career, he 
has been unique for the breadth of his entertainment experience and 
unsurpassed in his talent. It is the lifelong achievements of such a 
great man that I wish to honor here tonight.
  Merle Kilgore was born Wyatt Merle Kilgore on August 9, 1934 in 
Chickasha, Oklahoma. His family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana before 
he began school. He attended Byrd High School in Shreveport and later 
attended college at Louisiana Tech in Ruston.
  He first became involved with music at the young age of 14, carrying 
the guitar of another famous country musician, Hank Williams, Sr., at 
the famous Louisiana Hayride. Just two years later, in 1950, he began 
his show business career, performing at the Louisiana Hayride at just 
16.
  His first job was as a Disc Jockey at a radio station in Ruston, 
Louisiana and in 1953, he even hosted his own television and radio show 
as ``The Tall Texan''.
  Merle made his songwriting debut when he wrote his first number one 
hit, ``More and More,'' in 1953; he was just 18 years old. The song was 
recorded by Webb Pierce and became a million-seller in 1954. His 
success as a songwriter seemed to be assured by the popularity of his 
first song, but he was far from finished.
  Surpassing his own songwriting accomplishments seemed to be another 
of Merle's talents. Not long after writing ``More and More'', Merle 
wrote the 10 million-seller ``Wolverton Mountain'', which was recorded 
by Claude

[[Page E1279]]

King. Still not satisfied, he and June Carter Cash wrote the country 
music hit `Ring of Fire,' which was recorded by Johnny Cash and sold 
more than 16 million records. To this day, Merle Kilgore has continued 
to be a prolific songwriter, cataloging more than 300 songs and selling 
almost 50 million records.
  He recorded his first top 10 record in 1959, the self penned ``Dear 
Mama'', while he was a DJ and the manager of a radio station in 
Louisiana. In his signature style of never being satisfied with just 
one big hit, Merle added the records ``Love has made you beautiful,'' 
``42 in Chicago,'' and ``Fast Talking Louisiana Man'' among others to 
his already impressive collection of songs and records. Merle's 
favorite record, entitled ``Mr. Garfield'' by Merle Kilgore and Friends 
was recorded with longtime friends and fellow country music legends 
Hank Williams, Jr. and Johnny Cash.

  As if his accomplishments in recording and songwriting were not 
enough, Merle Kilgore's talents in the entertainment industry extend 
even further. As an actor, he has appeared in the box office hits 
``Coal Miner's Daughter,'' Robert Altman's ``Nashville,'' ``W.W. and 
the Dixie Dance Kings,'' ``Roadie,'' and the CBS-TV movie, ``Willa.'' 
He also played himself in NBC-Telecom's Living Proof, the life story of 
Hank Williams, Jr.
  While lesser men would have been satisfied with such an impressive 
list of lifetime accomplishments, Merle Kilgore went further. In 1962, 
Merle moved to Nashville to open and manage the Nashville branch of the 
prestigious Shapiro Bernstein and Al Gallico music publishing 
companies. He became the general manager of Hank Williams, Jr.'s music 
publishing companies in 1969 and on April 7, 1986 was named Executive 
Vice President and head of management of Hank Williams, Jr. 
Enterprises. Merle Kilgore has been affiliated with Hank Williams, Jr. 
for more than 30 years and has served as his personal manager for the 
last 16 years.
  The management experience and leadership of Merle have been tested 
and proven in a number of successful business ventures and industry 
leadership positions. He has been involved as Vice President of the 
Country Music Association and has served on that organization's Board 
of Directors for the last fourteen years. He has been the President of 
both the Nashville Songwriter's Foundation and the Nashville 
Songwriter's Association International; a fitting position for an 
individual of his talent.
  Merle Kilgore's outstanding accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. 
In 1987, he was named as an honorary State Senator for the State of 
Tennessee. He was selected by his fellow entertainers as Country Music 
Association's first ever Manager of the Year in 1990. Three years 
later, in 1993, Merle was inducted into the Louisiana State Hall of 
Fame in Lafayette and was also inducted into the Shreveport's Byrd High 
School Hall of Fame. In 1998, Merle received the Legendary Songwriter's 
Award from the North American Country Music Association and was 
inducted into the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
  Merle continues to direct the operations of Hank Williams, Jr. 
Enterprises in Paris, Tennessee and Merle Kilgore Management in 
Nashville.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to a 
living legend in American entertainment and an icon of American country 
music. Mr. Merle Kilgore has consistently outperformed and exceeded 
even his own high achievements. I join all of his fans around the world 
in saying ``Thank You'' for sharing his incredible talent with all of 
us and wish him many more years of health, happiness, and continued 
success.

                          ____________________