[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S10446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JOEL T. BROYHILL

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Virginian, and dear friend, the former 10th District 
Congressman, Joel T. Broyhill, who died this past weekend.
  Congressman Broyhill was an outstanding public servant. He had a 
certain ``joie de vivre'' that one does not often find--his presence, 
his spirit would fill up a whole room. His sense of civic 
responsibility--both through his service in the U.S. Army and as the 
Representative to Congress from Virginia's 10th District--was second to 
none. And his devotion to his three daughters, stepdaughter, 
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was unmatched; they were the 
joys of his life.
  A native of Hopewell, VA, Congressman Broyhill was born on November 
14, 1919. He attended Fork Union Military Academy and George Washington 
University.
  In 1942, he enlisted in the Army. He served as an officer in the 
European Theater in the 106th Infantry Division and was taken prisoner 
in the Battle of the Bulge. After 6 months in German prison camps, he 
escaped and rejoined the advancing American forces. On November 1, 
1945, after 4 years of service, Congressman Broyhill was released from 
active duty as a captain.
  In 1952, at the age of 33, Broyhill was elected as a Republican from 
Virginia's newly created 10th District to the 83d Congress, by 322 
votes. Congressman Broyhill was reelected 10 times, serving 21 years in 
Congress, until December 1974.
  Congressman Broyhill's prime source of political success was his 
dedication to constituent service. At the time of Congressman 
Broyhill's tenure in Congress, the 10th District contained more Federal 
employees than any other district in the United States. In 1972, 
Congressman Broyhill estimated that he had aided more than 100,000 
district residents during his 20-plus years in office.
  According to the 1974 Almanac of American Politics:

       [t]here are few congressional offices in which the demand 
     for services is so high, given the number of Federal 
     employees in Broyhill's district; and there are few indeed 
     that take care of constituents' needs and complaints with 
     more efficiency.

  The 10th District of Virginia was shaped and forever changed by 
Congressman Broyhill's initiatives in Congress. He laid the foundation 
for major transportation projects, including the construction of 
Interstate 66, the Metrorail System, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and 
Washington Dulles International Airport.
  The Almanac also describes Congressman Broyhill as one who ``should 
be credited with voting his conscience.''
  Even after he left Congress, Congressman Broyhill continued serving 
constituents by maintaining an office to assist those with problems 
relating to the federal government. In fact, my Senate office would 
receive a call about once a month from the ``Broyhill Office'' asking 
us to follow up on a constituent inquiry.
  In 1978, I was honored and proud to have my longtime friend come out 
of retirement to serve as General Chairman of my U.S. Senate campaign. 
It was great to see him back on the political stage in Virginia. 
Congressman Broyhill's knowledge of the Commonwealth and of campaign 
strategy were invaluable to me as he introduced a most interesting 
couple to the political scene. Congressman Broyhill helped me to 
convince my wife at the time, Elizabeth Taylor, that being a 
candidate's spouse was the best role she could play. Many times he 
accompanied Elizabeth to campaign events when I was unable to attend. 
He was an exemplary ambassador for my 1978 campaign.
  Congressman Broyhill's ``house by the side of the road'' in Arlington 
was never without yard signs during any election. As one of the first 
Republicans elected in Virginia, he was a trailblazer and he helped 
every Republican member of the Virginia congressional delegation--
including its two current U.S. Senators--to be elected under the 
Republican banner.
  Congressman Broyhill was instrumental in building his father's real 
estate business, M.T. Broyhill & Sons. The company was started in 
Hopewell, and the family later relocated to northern Virginia when 
Congressman Broyhill was growing up.
  Congressman Broyhill and his wife Suzy were stalwarts of charitable 
giving and have given both their time and resources to many 
organizations across the Commonwealth, and notably, to the Wolf Trap 
Foundation for the Performing Arts.
  It is with a great sense of humility that we pay tribute today to the 
life of our dear friend and dedicated public servant, Congressman Joel 
T. Broyhill. We offer our condolences to his three daughters, Nancy, 
Jeanne and Jane Anne, his stepdaughter, Kimi, and his wife of 25 years, 
Suzy. He also has four grandchildren: Meredith, Maureen, Lindsay, and 
Kathleen, and three great-grandchildren: Molly, Jack, and Kara.

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