[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 30, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S398-S399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT MITCHELL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear 
friend of mine and a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth of 
Kentucky, Mr. Robert Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell--better known across 
Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District as Bob--recently received the 
William Hacker, M.D. 2013 Leader of the Year Award from Kentucky's 
Leadership Tri-County. This organization, which represents Laurel, 
Knox, and Whitley counties, recognized Bob for his decades of service 
to the Bluegrass State.
  From 1986 until his retirement last year, Bob served as Congressman 
Hal Rogers's district administrator for the Fifth District. In that 
job, he was Hal's eyes and ears throughout southern and eastern 
Kentucky. He oversaw three field offices, provided constituent 
services, and was Hal's liaison to State and local government. It is 
thanks to him that many people in Kentucky now enjoy the benefits of a 
multitude of infrastructure, economic development, and tourism 
projects.
  Bob has also served as Hal's top political adviser and campaign 
manager, and was his field representative from 1981 to 1986. He has 
served on the executive committee of the Republican Party of Kentucky, 
been a delegate to Republican National Conventions, and was twice 
elected magistrate in Knox County.
  Bob's father, the late Murrell Mitchell, also served as a magistrate 
of Knox County and was a member of the Knox County School Board. It was 
he who inspired Bob to seek fulfillment in public service. A graduate 
of Lynn Camp High School in Corbin, KY, Bob first served his country in 
the uniform of the U.S. Army. He was in the Army's military police and 
served in Vietnam.
  Bob has been employed in the private sector, too: He has worked for 
L&N Railroad, United Parcel Service, and as the owner and operator of a 
grocery store. He has been a member of the Corbin Rotary Club and the 
Lynn Camp Optimist Club. And the Mountain Laurel Boy Scouts of America 
District honored him with its first-ever Daniel Boone Visionary Award.
  Bob enjoys politics, obviously, as well as fishing and following 
college sports. He is an avid fan of Keeneland Race Course and has 
owned racehorses. But I believe what he is most looking forward to is 
spending more time with

[[Page S399]]

his family and spoiling his grandkids. Bob and his wife, Nancy, have 
two daughters: Stephanie Alsip lives in Louisville with her husband 
Rick and their two sons, Trenton and Ethan. Jennifer Mitchell lives in 
Corbin with her two daughters, Tori Beth and Taelor Jade.
  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to join me in 
saluting Mr. Robert Mitchell for over three decades of service to the 
people of my State. He is admired and respected across the Commonwealth 
as an ambassador, not just for Congressman Rogers, but for everything 
we're proud of in southern and eastern Kentucky. I wish Bob well in his 
retirement, and I rest assured he will find success in whatever 
endeavors lie ahead.

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