[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYING TRIBUTE TO CHIC HECHT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former United States 
Senator Chic Hecht for his service to the residents of Nevada as well 
as the United States of America.
  Mayer Jacob Hecht was born on November 30, 1928. He is better known 
by his friends and family by the childhood nickname of Chic. Chic was 
born into a Jewish family in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He received a 
Bachelor of Science degree in retailing from Washington University in 
St. Louis in 1949 before entering the military.
  Chic attended Military Intelligence School at Fort Holibird and 
served as an intelligence agent with the U.S. Armed Forces during the 
Korean War, from 1951 to 1953. Chic was a member of the National 
Military Intelligence Association, and was inducted into the Military 
Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1988. After leaving military service, Chic 
moved to Nevada. His business activities included retailing, the 
operation of a bank, and interests in hotels. He married the former 
Gail Kahn in 1959.
  In 1966, Chic was elected to the Nevada State Senate, the first 
Republican to represent his predominantly Democratic district in and 
around Las Vegas in more than 25 years. He was a State Senator from 
1967 to 1975, serving as Senate Minority Leader from 1969 to 1970. In 
1982, Chic was elected to the United States Senate, ousting four-term 
incumbent Democrat Howard Cannon. He served only one term, from 1983 to 
1989, having been defeated for reelection in 1988 by Democrat Richard 
Bryan. He was then appointed ambassador to the Bahamas by President 
George H.W. Bush, and served in that post from 1989 to 1994.
  At age 77, Senator Hecht passed away on May 15, 2006 due to 
complications from cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Senator Chic Hecht for his success 
in politics and his service to his community and his country. He will 
be dearly missed by all who knew him.

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