[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF WARD CORRELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2016

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of my 
dear friend, Ward Correll. We have lost a giant in Somerset, Kentucky--
a gentle giant, a generous giant, a business giant, a God-fearing 
giant.
  Ward came up from the poorest of origins, but he had that drive and 
ambition to succeed. He overcame tremendous obstacles. He reminds us of 
what Churchill once said, ``The pessimist sees difficulty in every 
opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.'' He 
had a profound positive attitude, always looking to the upside of life.
  When I first ran for this office, to represent the good people of 
Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District, I went to see Ward about my 
chances. I'll never forget what he advised: ``Get out in the middle of 
the stream where the current is the swiftest. That's the only way to 
get where you want to go.''
  This man was a business genius, the most generous man I've ever 
known, the truest friend of all of us, a visionary for his community, a 
dynamic personality, and he was the most skilled Rook player in all of 
Somerset.
  My most vivid recollection of Ward was when he undertook his very 
first business venture--the development of Tradewinds Shopping Center. 
It required the huge movement of dirt from the slim hilly plot of land 
to create enough space for the endeavor. Driving by, I saw just one 
piece of machinery--a bulldozer, being driven by the only person on the 
project--that driver was Ward Correll; shirtless and sweating 
profusely. But that drive and determination yielded a historic first 
for Somerset--a modern shopping center, bringing new life to a new 
Somerset and the beginning of the business empire he built. He later 
established a thriving oil and gas distributorship, invested in a life 
insurance company and founded a bank, creating much-needed jobs and 
boosting the economy in the Lake Cumberland area.
  Despite all his drive and his many skills, Ward had the most 
unexpected and almost child-like sense of humor--simple and warming 
little mannerisms--and he loved the simple, but meaningful pleasures: 
family, friends, his devout religion and especially his church--and its 
pastor, Dr. French Harmon.
  His most enduring legacy will be the success he engendered in others. 
His generosity was unending, especially for children. Helping those in 
desperate straits, or at a critical time in their lives. His monumental 
gifts to education are legendary--whether the Somerset Christian School 
or the University of the Cumberlands, or any of hundreds of other 
institutions, churches or playgrounds for children. We'll never know 
just how much he gave to others, because he didn't brag.
  He gave new meaning to the Biblical admonition that it is more 
blessed to give than to receive. He believed what Mark Twain said, ``to 
get the full value of joy, you must have people to divide it with.'' 
Leonard Nimoy, the actor, said, ``the miracle is this--the more we 
share, the more we have.''
  We may not see his likes again on this Earth, but I'm sure of one 
thing--we will see him again--in Heaven, thanks be to God--his and 
ours.
  Mr. Speaker, we have lost a loyal friend and true patriot, but his 
footprint in our region will be visible for generations to come. My 
wife Cynthia and I offer our deepest sympathy and prayers to the 
Correll family.

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