[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 103 (Friday, June 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO REGINA CORRELL

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                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 2008

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that 
I rise to inform the House of the passing of Regina Correll, a truly 
great lady, in my hometown of Somerset.
  Regina and her husband of 56 years, Ward Correll, started their 
marriage with meager belongings, but through hard work during their 
life together, were able to become the largest philanthropic givers to 
the good and the needy in their home county's history.
  Caring for others has been the hallmark of the Corrells. Regina's 
greatest love though, was for her seven children, 13 grandchildren and 
two great-grandchildren, and she saw them continue the culture of 
helping others.
  Her and Ward's other great love was for their church, the First 
Baptist Church of Somerset. They rarely missed attending Sunday 
services in their 50-plus years of membership. It is astonishing to 
note that during the last year of her life, in spite of a seriously 
disabling illness, she missed only two Sunday school classes of the 
group she taught. The church has been a major receiver of their 
sacrifice. The Corrells subscribe to what Mark Twain once wrote: ``To 
get the full value of joy, you must have people to divide it with.''
  No one will ever know just how many underprivileged people, young and 
old, have seen that joy with the Corrells and been helped over a rough 
patch, and mostly without publicity. And in addition to their church, 
there are the good institutions that promote hard work and caring for 
others they have helped in major ways--such as the Somerset Christian 
School and Victory Christian School, to which they gave millions of 
dollars. The Clear Creek Baptist Institute, a ministers school, the 
University of the Cumberlands, Somerset Community College, Bluegrass 
Council of Boy Scouts, Little League Baseball, and others too numerous 
to mention. They agreed with actor Leonard Nimoy who said: ``the 
miracle is this--the more we share, the more we have.''
  Regina's loving and devoted husband, Ward, continues the extremely 
successful business empire they built together. His heart is heavy with 
her loss but his spirit remains light and optimistic. His work is not 
over.
  Madam Speaker, I have known the Corrells for all my adult life. I 
have witnessed innumerable acts of kindness and generosity by these 
humble, caring and loving people. Never, though, have I heard them 
complain about their difficult course, the hard work, the huge risks 
taken or their deep personal, family losses. Always forward looking, 
always faithful, always cheerful.
  Regina Correll was a graceful, quiet, deeply faithful woman. She was 
a devoted wife, and mother; a God-fearing, God-loving Christian, who, 
no doubt, now basks in the glory of her Savior.
  If ever anyone could be compared to the Bible's Timothy as he 
described his life at its conclusion, it is Regina Correll. He said: 
``I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept 
the faith.'' 2 Timothy 4:7
  And Regina Correll did.

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