[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF SENATOR WENDELL FORD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRETT GUTHRIE

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2015

  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Wendell Hampton 
Ford. A dedicated public servant, Senator Ford held many roles in state 
and federal politics, including Governor of the Commonwealth and U.S. 
Senator.
   A Daviess County native, Senator Ford always held his hometown close 
to his heart. It was his starting point in government and his final 
resting place. Holding elected office for more than three decades, 
Senator Ford is the only Kentuckian to seek and win election to 
consecutive terms as lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator.
   Throughout his long tenure in state and federal government, Senator 
Ford was known and will be remembered for being an advocate for his 
fellow Kentuckians. A friend of the farmers, Senator Ford has been 
recognized for his work on agricultural issues, particularly tobacco. 
Senator Ford understood the vital role tobacco played--and still 
plays--in Kentucky's economy.
   In tackling these big issues, Senator Ford quickly rose through the 
ranks. He was elected the whip of his party in 1990, a position he held 
until he left the U.S. Senate. He once described himself to the New 
York Times as ``being a workhorse and not a show horse.'' It's that 
same attitude that led him to be a behind-the-scenes dealmaker, who 
strived to achieve solutions to our policy woes.
   That desire to better his community and country did not stop when 
Senator Ford left public service. After serving four terms in the U.S. 
Senate, Senator Ford created the Wendell H. Ford Government Education 
Center, located in Owensboro, KY. Designed to educate young people 
about civics and public policy, Senator Ford continued teaching those 
lessons until the end of his life. It is a fantastic facility with a 
wonderful mission, and the center is just one of the many lasting 
legacies his leadership has left on the region.
   I join with Kentucky's Second District in sending prayers to Senator 
Ford's family. We will miss him and are grateful for his service to the 
Commonwealth and our nation.

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