[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 43 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   REMEMBERING GOVERNOR BOOTH GARDNER

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to a great American 
governor, dedicated public servant, and community leader from the State 
of Washington, Governor Booth Gardner.
  He was born August 21, 1936 in Tacoma, WA and was a leader of 
tremendous compassion, dignity, and bravery whose service to our State 
will live on far into the future. Booth was generous in sharing his 
wisdom and his time, and I will never forget the lessons he taught me 
when I was just beginning my political career in Olympia many years 
ago.
  I learned so much from Booth because he was a man that led by 
example. He demonstrated governing was about the people you served and 
served with, by learning everyone's name, what issues they cared deeply 
about, and by taking the time to work with anyone who shared his desire 
to make Washington State a better place to live.
  Booth also showed compromise and compassion were not competing ideals 
by being pragmatic when he needed to be, but by always working to 
protect the needs of the most vulnerable.
  Governor Gardner passed away on March 15, 2013 in Tacoma at the age 
of 76, after a long battle with Parkinson's. While I am deeply saddened 
by his passing, Booth's imprint on our State will long be seen in our 
classrooms and the many open spaces he fought to protect.
  Up until the very end of his life, Booth remained a fighter for the 
issues he cared most about. Those of us who knew him couldn't have 
imagined it any other way. I miss him greatly.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in paying homage to Governor Booth 
Gardner. He lived a full life, and the people of Washington State will 
always be indebted to him for his role in shaping the future of our 
State. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time of great loss.

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