[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E150-E151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF ROGER BONE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2009

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life 
and achievements of Roger Bone, a former North Carolina legislator and 
a good friend to me and to all of Nash County. He died on January 25, 
2009, after battling cancer for many months. He will be sorely missed.
  Roger and I shared parallel lives in many ways. He grew up on a 
tobacco farm, like I did, and like me was first elected to the state 
legislature in 1978. It was a pleasure to have him as a friend and 
partner in my early legislative career.
  He quickly rose through the General Assembly to become chairman of 
the House Banks and Thrift Institutions Committee, where he served with 
distinction until 1981. In 1987, he started his own lobbying business, 
Bone and Associates, which has been among the most influential firms in 
North Carolina. Last year, the N.C. Center for Public Policy recognized 
him as the number one lobbyist in the state, and he was also one of the 
most well-liked. People knew they could trust Roger, and his influence 
was a credit to his honesty, hard work, and easy humor.
  Last June, Roger received the Order of the Long Lead Pine, the 
highest honor our state gives to our native sons and daughters. I can 
think of no one who is more deserving of North Carolina's respect and 
admiration.
  Roger's family shared his love of Nash County and commitment to 
public service with his family. His lovely wife Reba was an elementary 
and middle school principal, and his son, Fred, was his partner in Bone 
and Associates. In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by two 
grandsons, Jacob and Caleb; his father, Winslow; and two brothers and a 
sister.
  It was my honor to be asked to offer the following eulogy at the 
funeral of this great man.

       It is an honor to take part in this memorial service for my 
     good friend Roger. I wish I could be there today with you to 
     honor and remember Roger. However, today in the House of 
     Representatives we are taking a critical vote to help our 
     economy recover from its current downturn, and I will he 
     thinking of Roger as I take today's votes. I will be thinking 
     of his love of politics and legislation, and his many years 
     in the arena, and I know he would understand, and Reba and 
     his family understand, but I still wish I could be with you.
       There is not a person here who doesn't know how Roger Bone 
     loved Nash County and loved serving his community in the 
     legislature. He was not only a student of politics, but he 
     was a practitioner all his life. I remember that when he gave 
     Reba her engagement ring, they didn't celebrate with dinner, 
     they went to watch the General Assembly, so you know that 
     politics was really in his bones.
       As most of you know, he was ranked the top lobbyist in 
     North Carolina last year, and he was so successful because he 
     truly cared about people. In his work, he made friends, not 
     enemies; knowing that those who were not with him today could 
     be his partner tomorrow. Roger was a good friend to me, as he 
     was to many of you. He could be calm in the midst of a storm. 
     No matter what--the commotion of business, the furor of 
     political debate--he was always steady, always smiling, 
     always a reliable partner and friend.
       I count it a distinct blessing that we were freshman 
     members of the General Assembly together and I will never 
     forget that year. In 1979, we were part of a group of 
     ``Liston's Boys'': Roger, myself, Martin Lancaster, Paul 
     Pulley, and others. As roommates at the Brownstone Hotel, 
     Roger and I spent many late hours talking about our new roles 
     and the politics of the House. My fondest memories were the 
     early mornings. Even though we both grew up on a farm, Roger 
     never appreciated my getting up early in the morning to go 
     running. As I was heading out, my stirring would wake up 
     Roger while he was still trying to finish his sleep. Then, I 
     would wake him up again when I got back.
       However, the work ethic he gained from farm life served him 
     well in the General Assembly and in the rest of his life. His 
     positive attitude contributed to his success in everything he 
     did. Everyone who knew him liked him, and everyone who worked 
     with him liked him as well. It says a lot about him that he 
     could always laugh at himself, and in the toughest of times 
     if you can laugh you'll be alright.
       While this is a sad day for all of us, it would be wise of 
     us to remember the words of the great artist, Leonardo da 
     Vinci, who said on the death of a friend, ``As a well-spent 
     day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings a happy 
     death.'' Roger used his life well, and Nash County, and the 
     State of North Carolina are better due to his efforts. I am 
     better because I knew him, as are we all. Thank you for 
     allowing me to be part of this remembrance.

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