[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E293-E294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF THE LATE DR. RUSSELL KING HELTSLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Dr. 
Russell King Heltsley of Hopkinsville, KY, for his contributions to his 
community, church and family. Dr. Heltsley passed away on December 13, 
2004. Dr. Heltsley was a founder of the Hopkinsville, Kentucky Crime 
Stoppers, a member of the Lions Club and served on the board of 
directors for the Christian County Health Department. Dr. Heltsley was 
born on January 26, 1933. He was the son of the late King and Nola 
Withers Heltsley.
  Dr. Heltsley served Hopkinsville as an optometrist for more than 40 
years. He successfully owned and operated Heltsley Eye Care. In 
addition, Dr. Heltsley served his country in the United States Army as 
a First Lieutenant.
  Dr. Russell Heltsley was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He 
was known for his dedication to his family.
  I appreciate this opportunity to add his eulogy to the Congressional 
Record of the 109th Congress.

 For Every Remembrance of Russell Philippians 4: 8-9; Philippians 1:3-5

                                                December 16, 2004.
       Fredrick Buechner, preacher and writer, wrote a book back 
     in 1984 entitled, A Room Called Remember. In Chapter 1, last 
     page, he makes an insightful statement. ``Remember him who 
     himself remembers us as he promised to remember the thief who 
     died beside him. To have faith is to remember and wait, and 
     to wait in hope is to have what we hope for already begin to 
     come true in us through our hoping.''
       We are coming up on the 4th Sunday in Advent, 2004. It is 
     the season for remembering and hoping. It is a time of 
     remembering and waiting. It is a season of hope.
       In the Epistle lessons from Philippians just read, the 
     missionary apostle says to his fellow Christians: ``I thank 
     my God in all my remembrance of you all, making my prayer 
     with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel . . .''
       As members of the community of faith, each of us has our 
     own remembrances of Dr. Russell Heltsley.
       Helen, you will remember the time you had Russell over to 
     your parents' home when you were dating. Thinking you had 
     prepared the delicious meal, seeing only your mother in the 
     kitchen upon his arrival, gave him a lot of concern. Later, 
     he admitted to you, ``It bothered me a lot.''
       You will remember Russell coming home from the hospital 
     following your surgery, and eating the food you cooked before 
     entering the hospital, and hearing him tell me he was cooking 
     for you. I thought that sounded strange and you confirmed 
     later that all Russell was doing was warming up the food you 
     had cooked.
       John and Russ, you will always remember your dad telling 
     you boys, ``Always do what's right, whether or not it is 
     popular.'' May his tribe increase. Russ and John, you will 
     long remember how proud he was of his family. The entire 
     family will remember his greatest disappointment in life was 
     not living to see his grandchildren grow up. You who are 
     members of the Lions Club will remember Helen coming to help 
     clean up because her husband couldn't do his part by helping 
     with the cooking.
       Members of the Kentucky Optometry Association will remember 
     Russell, who held every position in the Association, as the 
     one who always watched the ``purse strings''. Why am I not 
     surprised?
       All of Russell's friends will remember, for whatever 
     reason, he seldom ate out. Conservative? Yes!
       I will remember Russell as a devoted member of First United 
     Methodist Church where I served twice as one of his pastors. 
     He was so predictable, even in his seating patterns. 
     Confirmed in 1947 by Dr. A. C. Johnson, he remained faithful 
     to his confirmation vows for the rest of his life.
       Grandchildren, you will remember him as a controlling 
     grandparent who loved you very much. Russell had a good sense 
     of humor. After fitting me with my first pair of glasses in 
     the late 1970's, he reminded me that First Methodist folk 
     would now think they have ``an old preacher''. We will 
     remember his love for the farm and his dogged support of the 
     Kentucky Wildcats.
       In these verses from Philippians 1 and 4, Paul, the 
     Missionary Apostle, is speaking to the Philippian 
     congregation. In the first passage, he says to his fellow 
     Christians: ``I thank my God in all y remembrance of you all, 
     making my prayer with joy, thankful for your sharing in the 
     gospel . . .'' Memory is a gracious gift from God Almighty. 
     We don't know when our memory will be taken from us and we 
     will be poor indeed. I well remember those early days of my 
     ministry at Hopkinsville First Church, and his family members 
     are part of that memory bank.
       Today, we can say Russell has ``fought a good fight, has 
     finished his course, and has kept the faith.'' In Philippians 
     4: 8-9, Paul admonishes his friends in the church to a life 
     of piety. These six qualities of a committed life were the 
     qualities of Russell's life:
       Whatever is true: Little did I know in 1977, when I became 
     Russell's pastor, I would be entertaining an angel unawares. 
     He taught that young minister, through his dedicated life to 
     Christ, how to act conscientiously, by the standards of truth 
     based on Holy Writ. Russell's convictions were based on what 
     he believed the truth to be. The truth was never negotiable. 
     He lived the lesson of truth! Yes, he did!
       Whatever is honorable: Russell was truly a gentleman. A 
     Christian gentleman. An honorable gentleman. The 
     Interpreter's Bible reminds us that the Greek word literally 
     translated, reads: ``worthy of reverence''. Very fitting, 
     huh? His code of ethics was based on the Ten Commandments and 
     the Beatitudes. He didn't have a copy of either posted on his 
     front lawn. Didn't need to!
       Whatever is just: Russell lived out the doctrine of 
     justice. I his daily life, and in all his social contacts, he 
     was a fair and just gentleman. He always played by the rules 
     of fairness, compassion and justice.
       Whatever is pure: A good translation of these words is 
     this: ``Purify yourself of all mean spirits.'' Russell didn't 
     have a mean bone in his body. No he didn't! Stubborn, but not 
     mean! You know something? He never, not one time, told me 
     ``Howard, I have purified myself of all mean spirits.'' He 
     just quietly went about the business of living a good life.
       Whatever is lovely: Again, the Interpreter's Bible says the 
     original meaning was, ``Whatever is worthy of love.'' 
     (Agape). Russell had a love relationship with all of us, 
     which was directly related to his love for our Savior Jesus 
     Christ. Now, separated by almost 30 years from the time I 
     first met Russell, that memory is just as vivid as ever. He 
     loved the Lord. He loved his brothers and sisters in Christ. 
     He loved his family!
       Whatever is gracious: The King James Version translates the 
     statement this way: ``Whatever thing are of good report.'' I 
     like that. Don't you? Russell blessed me with his positive 
     and loving spirit. He was truly gracious, always of a good 
     report. That's Russell. Always spoken well of. Always held in 
     honor. The time I have left in this world, I sincerely want 
     to put these qualities to work in my life. Things I have 
     observed in Russell.
       Following Russell's death, ``Rock-a-Bye Baby'' was being 
     played on the hospital intercom in celebration of the birth 
     of a baby. Russell would have liked that.


                               CONCLUSION

       Thank God of every remembrance of this wonderful servant of 
     Christ. J.B.F. Wright wrote the words of an old Gospel song 
     which is part of my yesterdays of faith. Verse one is my 
     favorite:

     ``Precious memories, unseen angels,
     Sent from somewhere to my soul:
     How they linger, ever near me,
     And the sacred past un-fold.''

       Kipling's beautiful poem says it all:

      When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted Rudyard Kipling (1982)

     When Earth's last picture is painted and the tubes are 
           twisted and dried,
     When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic 
           has died,
     We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it--lie down for an 
           eon or two,
     Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put us to work 
           anew!

     And those that were good shall be happy: they shall sit in a 
           golden chair;
     They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with brushes of 
           comets' hair;
     They shall find real saints to draw from--Magdalene, Peter, 
           and Paul;

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     They shall work for an age at a sitting and never be tired at 
           all!

     And only the Master shall praise us, and only the Master 
           shall blame;
     And no one shall work for money, and no one shall work for 
           fame,
     But each for the joy of the working, and each, in his 
           separate star,
     Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as 
           They Are!

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