[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN RICHARD A. GEPHARDT OF MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2008

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this time to recognize my 
good friend and our former colleague, Congressman Richard A. Gephardt 
of Missouri, who recently received the Harry S. Truman Award for Public 
Service from the City of Independence, Missouri. This award is given 
annually to honor a distinguished public servant who best exemplifies 
the characteristics of President Harry S. Truman.
  Congressman Richard Gephardt grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 
1958 graduated from Southwest High School. He is an Eagle Scout and is 
a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. In 1962, he earned 
a bachelor of science degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, 
Illinois, and earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in 
1965. After law school, Congressman Gephardt practiced law and set 
forth on a distinguished public service career that included serving 
the American people in military uniform and in elected office. From 
1965 to 1971, Congressman Gephardt served in the Missouri Air National 
Guard. From 1968 to 1971, he served as a Democratic committeeman in St. 
Louis, and from 1971 to 1976, he served as a St. Louis alderman.
  In 1976, Gephardt ran for and was elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives. From 1977 to 2005, Congressman Gephardt served the 
people of Missouri and our country with distinction and quickly became 
a leader within the Democratic Caucus. In 1984, he was elected chairman 
of the House Democratic Caucus and was elected House majority leader in 
1989. He subsequently served as House minority leader from 1994 to 
2005. Gephardt also twice ran for the Democratic Presidential 
nomination, in 1988 and in 2004. After retiring from Congress in 2005, 
Gephardt formed a consulting and public policy development firm.
  Madam Speaker, Congressman Richard A. Gephardt exemplifies the best 
of American public service. He is so very deserving of the Harry S. 
Truman Award, and I know my colleagues in the House will join me in 
congratulating him, his wife, Jane, and their lovely family for their 
years of dedication to the American people.

                          ____________________