[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S13360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S13360]]
          IN MEMORY OF DELAWARE STATE SENATOR JAMES T. VAUGHN

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, earlier this month James T. Vaughn, 
a long-time State Senator who was a legend in Delaware, passed away, 
and I want to pay tribute to him.
  Jim spent a lifetime in public service, enlisting in the Marine Corps 
during World War II; serving as a Delaware State Police trooper for two 
decades and as the State Corrections Commissioner; and entering our 
State Senate 27 years ago.
  His seniority put him in powerful positions either as the chairman or 
member of the committees that oversaw budgets, revenues, taxation, 
judiciary, and corrections matters. In other words, he had his hand in 
everything, and most recently that meant establishing a veterans' home 
at Milford.
  Jim had this tough image, always set in his way, and always an honest 
man, who scrutinized every matter and paid incredible attention to the 
taxpayers' dollars. Throughout his career no one worked harder for the 
people of Delaware than Jim Vaughan.
  His constituents were his No. 1 priority, and last year when he 
became ill and was unable to campaign during his re-election, the 
voters still handily put him in office, recognizing a lifetime of 
responsiveness to their needs. It set a standard we can all admire.
  Like this Senator, Jim was a lifetime Yankees fan. And he had a 
special place in his heart for Little League baseball. Babe Ruth once 
said:

       I won't be happy until we have every boy in America between 
     the ages of six and sixteen wearing a glove and swinging a 
     bat.

  Babe Ruth would have appreciated Jim. For four decades he volunteered 
with the Smyrna-Clayton Little League, a group he originally helped 
organize. He served as its director, treasurer, equipment manager, and 
grass cutter--in fact, his wife Sylvia would joke that he loved to cut 
the grass there, but not at the family home in Clayton.
  A few times I had the high honor of throwing the first pitch to start 
the season, and today the Smyrna-Clayton Little League Park is named 
for Jim.
  The people of Delaware will miss Jim, and I extend my prayers and 
thoughts to his loving family.

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