[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DR. H.D. ``DAVE'' LUCK, A MAN OF HONOR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2005

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
legacy of Dr. H.D. ``Dave'' Luck, a statesman, a leader, a veteran, and 
a true gentleman who passed away on January 3, 2005 in Arkansas at the 
age of 79. Dr. Luck was a man who, in deed and action, distinguished 
himself as someone who set forth to make Arkansas a better place to 
live as a champion for civil rights and higher education.
  Born in 1925 in New York City, Dr. Luck graduated from Bates College 
in Maine in 1945, and earned his M.D. degree from Case Western Reserve 
University School of Medicine in Cleveland. After doing post graduate 
work in medical education at the United States Naval School of Aviation 
Medicine in Florida, and at University Hospital in Little Rock, Dr. 
Luck eventually settled in Arkadelphia where he founded the Arkadelphia 
Medical Clinic in 1979.
  Dr. Luck began a life of public service in Arkadelphia, where he 
served as President of General Industries Corporation from 1962 until 
1968, the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Arkadelphia Kiwanis 
Club. He was awarded the Junior Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Award 
in 1963.
  Dr. Luck continued an inspiring career of public service on the state 
as Chair of the Democratic Party. In 1964, he chaired the Committee for 
Voter Registration. Dr. Luck's passion was Civil Rights; he chaired the 
coalition that successfully created a constitutional amendment which 
abolished the poll tax and set up a system of permanent voter 
registration. In 1965, President Johnson appointed him to the White 
House Conference on Civil Rights. Like many reformers before him, Dr. 
Luck was driven by a cause that was met with adversity. He met each 
challenge and cause with fervor that mystifies and inspires us to 
public service.
  In addition to Civil Rights, Dr. Luck was committed to improving 
Arkansas higher education. He served as Trustee of Henderson State 
University in Arkadelphia from 1970 until 1982. He was appointed to the 
Arkansas State Board of Higher Education by Governor Bill Clinton, 
serving from 1988 until 1994.
  His service went far beyond civilian life; Dr. Luck served in the 
U.S. Navy V-12 program during World War II. He also served as a Naval 
Medical Officer during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
  Arkansas will be forever grateful that such a visionary leader came 
along, at the time he did, to lead us into a new era. I hope that you 
are as inspired as I have been by Dr. Luck's relentless determination 
to fight for such important causes. While Dr. Luck is no longer with 
us, his legacy lives on by the way he improved the quality of life for 
all Arkansans.

                          ____________________