[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MONSIGNOR WILLIAM KERR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JASON ALTMIRE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 18, 2009

  Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the incredible life 
of a truly great man, Monsignor William Kerr, who died last week at the 
age of 68. Monsignor Kerr was known, respected and loved throughout the 
world and his loss will be felt around the globe.
  His professional life began as a parish priest in his hometown of St. 
Louis, and ended as Executive Director of the Claude Pepper Center for 
International Dialogue in Tallahassee, Florida. In between, he spent 
his entire career traveling the world working for peace, fighting for 
human rights, and promoting education and diplomacy.
  He spent the majority of his professional life in Pittsburgh, 
Washington, DC, and Tallahassee, home of his beloved Florida State 
University, where he received multiple degrees and spent the early part 
of his career as an adjunct faculty member and an instructor of 
history, in addition to his position as Catholic Campus Minister.
  Throughout his life, Monsignor Kerr traveled the globe to carry out 
his true callings of spiritual ministry and education. His travels gave 
him the opportunity to meet and befriend countless dignitaries, and to 
advance the cause for which he dedicated his life, human rights.
  He served as a vice president at Catholic University here in 
Washington, DC, and as president of La Roche College in McCandless, 
Pennsylvania.
  It was at La Roche College that I first met Monsignor Kerr. As a 
Trustee at La Roche, I worked closely with him and witnessed first-hand 
his love of education and the ease with which he interacted with 
people, whether they be Heads of State or freshman students.
  During his twelve years as president of La Roche College he created 
programs to educate future leaders and assist students from war-ravaged 
countries to get an American education. The Pacem in Terris Institute, 
which he created at La Roche, established a scholarship program for 
outstanding college age men and women from conflict and post-conflict 
nations, such as Bosnia and Rwanda. The students would receive an 
education at La Roche to study leadership and diplomacy in return for 
their agreeing to return to their home country after graduation to help 
rebuild their nations. In all, 450 students from 21 countries received 
scholarships. This program fulfilled Monsignor Kerr's dream of 
educating the future leaders of developing regions as a way to stem 
conflict and promote peace.
  Through this program he developed a life-long friendship with many 
world leaders and throughout his life he cultivated a wide and eclectic 
network of friends and colleagues. And while he was comfortable hosting 
high profile dignitaries, Monsignor Kerr was at his best when he was 
among the students that he loved. It seemed that he knew the names and 
life details of every student he encountered during his daily walks 
across campus, and he could often be seen sharing laughter and 
camaraderie with groups of students in between their classes.
  After leaving La Roche College in 2004, he returned to Washington, 
DC, to become the director of the Pope John Paul II Center, where he 
stayed until returning to Tallahassee to lead the Claude Pepper Center.
  Through it all he maintained his commitment to spiritual leadership, 
and he continued to celebrate mass. And it was during his celebration 
of mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Tallahassee that he 
suffered the stroke that claimed his life at the age of 68.
  I count myself fortunate to be one of the many that have had the 
opportunity to know and work with Monsignor William Kerr. He had a 
profound impact on my life as he did the lives of nearly everyone he 
encountered. His like will not be seen again, and he will be deeply 
missed.

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