[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1450-E1451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR ROY HUFFINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 14, 2008

  Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, last Friday marked the passing of a 
tremendous life. Ambassador Roy Huffington lived 90 very full years. He 
was larger than life. Roy was an entrepreneur, a veteran, a 
philanthropist, a husband and father, and a patriot. To me, he was a 
dear friend.
  He first served his country in the Navy in World War II. When he 
returned, he struck out on his own in the energy business and pioneered 
the development of the industry in Indonesia. He was enormously 
successful in everything he did, and he used his success to give back 
to society. The charities he founded and supported raised millions for 
good causes.
  President George H.W. Bush appointed Roy as Ambassador to Austria in 
the early 1990s, a critical time for the region. His tenure saw the 
fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginnings of real democracy in Eastern 
and Central Europe. Roy used his position to forge relationships 
between Eastern and Western Europe and to encourage the investment that 
was necessary to build up former Soviet states and create new 
opportunities for the people who had lived so long under tyranny. He 
continued this work until his passing. I have fond memories of times we 
spent together in Davos at the World Economic Forum. He never missed 
one of those annual meetings.
  I had the privilege of getting to know Roy and his wonderful wife 
Phyllis as we campaigned for their son, our former colleague Michael, 
as he was running for the United States Senate. Roy and Phyllis were 
incredibly warm, boisterous, funny and down-to-earth. When Phyllis 
passed away 5 years ago, everyone who knew her felt the terrible loss. 
Roy's unexpected passing on Friday was a tragic loss for the family and 
friends who loved him. We take comfort in the fact that he lived every 
day with a tremendous zeal for life.

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