[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE H.L. ``SONNY'' CALLAHAN ON RECEIPT OF THE 
  MOBILE BAY AREA VETERANS DAY COMMISSION'S PATRIOT OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to pay tribute to former Congressman Sonny Callahan on the 
occasion of his being honored by the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day 
Commission with its Patriot of the Year Award.
  Congressman Callahan is certainly no stranger to many in this 
chamber. For 18 years, he served as the representative of Alabama's 
First Congressional District, during which time he established a level 
of public service second to none. During his nine terms in the House of 
Representatives, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of 
south Alabama, ensuring that their needs and concerns were heard and 
that their individual problems received the attention they deserved. He 
displayed a tireless dedication to all citizens of the First District 
who, in turn, demonstrated their confidence in his abilities by 
returning him to Washington, D.C., time and again for almost twenty 
years.
  At the national level, Congressman Callahan was one of the most 
effective and well-liked members to ever serve in the House. A strong 
believer in responsive and responsible government, he was very 
conscious of the necessity to work with members from both sides of the 
aisle and was a master at forging alliances with colleagues regardless 
of party affiliation. From 1994 to 2000, he served as the Chairman of 
the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs. For the following 
two years, he served as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee's 
Energy and Water Subcommittee. In both positions, he brought both a 
deliberative approach and a desire for consensus-building to his 
committees. His strong leadership skills and his desire to work in 
unison with his colleagues engendered a great level of devotion and 
praise among the men and women with whom he served.
  More than anything else, however, the Patriot of the Year Award is a 
tribute to Congressman Callahan's efforts on behalf of the veterans in 
his district. Having served in the United States Navy during the Korean 
War, he has for many years been keenly aware of the many challenges 
facing men and women who have served and continue to serve in the armed 
forces of the United States. Many thousands of Alabamians who devoted 
large parts of their lives in service to their country could always 
count on Sonny to provide a voice for them in agencies where they would 
otherwise have not been heard, and support for them when they had 
nowhere else to turn.
  Mr. Speaker, I can think of no higher honor that could be bestowed on 
a man whom I not only consider to be tremendous congressman and mentor, 
but a close personal friend. Along with his family--his wife, Karen, 
his sons, Scott, Chris, and Patrick, and his daughters, Shawn and 
Kelly--and his many friends and former colleagues, I wish to extend to 
Congressman Sonny Callahan my warmest congratulations on receiving the 
Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day Commission's Patriot of the Year Award.

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