[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 181 (Thursday, December 19, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9048-S9049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING CHARLIE ROOS

 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, today I wish to remember 
an extraordinary journalist and Coloradan, Charlie Roos. Charlie was a 
journalist and editorialist for some 60 years at the Denver Post and 
the Rocky Mountain News. He was a man of exceptional character, strong 
opinions and great wit--in short, he was a true Westerner. His writing 
was fair and objective, and he sought to hold all public officials 
accountable, no matter their political affiliations. This made his 
politics difficult to pigeonhole; he favored good governance and public 
service over partisanship.
  Charlie grew up in Hiawatha, KS, and served our country during World 
War II. Following the war he went to Kansas University and graduated 
with Phi Beta Kappa honors. In 1946, his beloved wife Liza and daughter 
Mary moved with him to Denver where Charlie began his journalism career 
with the Denver Post. After many years covering State and national 
politics for the Post, he moved to the Rocky Mountain News where he 
remained until its closing in 2009. At the Rocky, Charlie served 
multiple roles including as a Washington, D.C., correspondent, 
political editor and weekly columnist. He continued to write about 
local and national politics on a personal blog until his death on 
August 27 of this year.
  He is survived by a daughter, Mary Roos Catton; sons, Billy and Bob 
Roos; grandchildren, Jane Johnson, Megan Feltes, Jasmine Hartman and 
Charlie Roos; and great grandchildren, Jordan and Mason Johnson; 
Samantha, Kyle and Asher Hartman; and Joe and Naomi Roos.
  Charlie was a loyal and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and 
great grandfather. He was also a dedicated journalist, with a passion 
for reporting and telling the truth to the people of

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Colorado. Charlie loved politics, and he believed in a higher standard 
for those who hold the public's trust. His writing was steeped in the 
history of Colorado and the Nation, which helped make his columns 
touchstones in our political dialogue. Like many in this country, he 
was disappointed in recent years at the vitriol and extremism that has 
crept into our debates. He bemoaned the decline of respectful 
opposition. Colorado lost a wise voice with the passing of Charlie 
Roos. Many, including myself, lost a mentor. But we should use his 
example to remind ourselves that the American people deserve the best 
that we can give. Our actions will always be measured against the high 
bar he set.
  I ask that my colleagues join me in remembering Charlie Roos for his 
passion for reporting, his political wisdom and his dedication to 
Colorado. He will be missed.

                          ____________________