[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 149 (Thursday, October 15, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, I thank the distinguished majority leader 
for the opportunity to thank my friend, Rev. James Merrell, for opening 
our session with prayer this morning. He has been a very dear friend 
from high school days onward. We attended Shortridge High School in 
Indianapolis, IN. He was 2 years older than I and was already well 
established with the Shortridge Daily Echo, a daily high school 
newspaper at Shortridge, writing for the Tuesday paper. I was grateful 
for the opportunity to write weekly for the Thursday paper. We shared 
experiences with the late Jean Grubb, a distinguished teacher of 
journalism at our school. Then likewise we were mentored by C.C. 
Shoemaker, the debate coach at Shortridge High School.
  Jim proceeded on to distinguished honors at Indiana University and 
then on to the Disciples of Christ Church in his ministry. He was most 
distinguished as the editor for many years of World Call and then 
established an additional paper at the Church of Christ on his own, The 
Disciple. He has been a pastor in St. Louis for many years. He has many 
mutual friends from Indianapolis.
  I am delighted he could be a part of our session today. I greet Jim 
Merrell as a very dear friend, someone I respect as a clergyman, a 
writer, and debater. I am thankful to the Senate Chaplain for inviting 
him to be with us.
  I thank the majority leader for yielding.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.

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