[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 140 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF THE PASSING OF DON PRIEST

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 2009

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join in the 
celebration of the life of Don Priest, a local legend in my district in 
Northwest Florida. For over four decades, Don delivered broadcast news 
and his daily editorials to people in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama 
Gulf Coast.
  Don's years of broadcasting made him one of the most recognized 
voices in the area. As news director of the radio station WCOA for 41 
years, he knew the importance of keeping people in the area informed. 
He also recognized that the news is not one-sided, and as the first 
host of Pensacola Speaks, a local radio call-in show, he was 
instrumental to letting countless people over the years discuss what 
was on their minds, be it a national, local, or a personal issue. Don 
opened his radio show to anything people wanted to discuss, and people 
daily instantly recognized his voice as he took to the airwaves.
  Don's radio broadcasting covered more than just the news. On Friday 
nights, his distinctive voice came on the air to cover local high 
school football games. He was a news director who was involved with all 
aspects of the news, and he worked hard to include people of all ages 
and walks of life in the community. Don's tireless work made sure that 
events in the area received the notice they deserved.
  Madam Speaker, Northwest Florida will long remember the legacy of Don 
Priest. My thoughts and prayers are with him, and many will be forever 
grateful for Don having touched their lives. Northwest Florida has 
suffered a great loss, but we will fondly recall his voice on the 
airwaves for a long time to come.

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