    [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
    [House]
    [Page H89]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                 TRIBUTE TO FORMER CONGRESSMAN LARRY WINN, JR.

      The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
    Kansas (Mr. Yoder) for 5 minutes.
      Mr. YODER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life
    of a long-time public servant in this body, one of my predecessors,
    former Third District Congressman from Kansas, Representative Larry
    Winn.
      Larry passed away on New Year's Eve at the remarkable age of 98, and
    he will be dearly missed by his family and the people of the Third
    District. Larry will long be remembered in our community and in the
    Halls of Congress as a devoted public servant.
      Representative Winn served in this body for 18 years, from 1967 to
    1985. His time in the House spanned across nine Congresses and five
    Presidential administrations, from Lyndon B. Johnson to Ronald Reagan.
    He served alongside some of the great statesmen of his time.
      Larry's freshman class in the House included later President George
    H.W. Bush. Larry and his wife, Joan, became good friends with the
    Bushes, and Joan and Barbara Bush were proud members of a club for
    congressional spouses called the 66 Club.
      Larry became close friends with and greatly respected President
    Gerald Ford, who once visited the Third District and drew a huge crowd
    in my hometown of Overland Park.
      Larry also represented our State, along with one of our most
    prominent Kansans ever, Senator Bob Dole.
      Larry was known as a congenial Member who worked to find consensus
    and develop strong relationships with his colleagues on both sides of
    the aisle. While he spent his entire time in Congress in the minority
    party, he made a priority of seeking out opportunities and friends on
    both sides of the aisle.
      Representative Winn served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
    for many years, ultimately becoming the ranking member on the
    committee. During his time working on the Foreign Affairs Committee,
    the United States grappled with major world events such as the Cold
    War, the Vietnam war, and conflict in the Middle East. In addition to
    his role on the Foreign Affairs Committee, he also represented the U.S.
    as a congressional representative to the United Nations, appointed by
    President Reagan. In all of these roles, he was an excellent
    representative of our country to the rest of the world.
      Larry took tremendous pride in serving the people of the Third
    District. Constituent service was always one of his top priorities, and
    he believed that solving problems for his constituents was one of his
    most important responsibilities. If someone had an issue with a Federal
    agency, Larry and his staff would make sure that it got resolved. This
    principle of valuing and serving each individual constituent in the
    district is one that I try to follow to this day trying to fill his
    shoes.
      He lived a great life outside of Congress as well. Larry was an
    alumnus of the University of Kansas school of journalism and a proud
    Jayhawk. I have even heard that he taught lifelong Wildcat current
    Senator Pat Roberts how to ``Wave the Wheat.''
      When World War II began, he was unable to join the military due to
    the loss of one of his legs in an accident; however, he still served
    his country admirably by building airplanes in Kansas City. Other
    accomplishments of his included serving as the director of the National
    Association of Home Builders and the founding of the Kansas City,
    Kansas, Chamber's Congressional Forum, which I have the privilege of
    regularly addressing and is still going on today, starting its 50th
    year.
      Larry was a mentor to me and so many aspiring elected officials in
    Kansas, dispensing valuable advice, and old war stories to help guide
    us along. He had a gift for humor and an ease with people that served
    him well in all of his endeavors. And most of all, he was a great man.
      While we will mourn the loss of Larry, I take comfort knowing that he
    is now being reunited with Joan, his beloved wife of 73 years, who
    passed away in 2015. Larry also leaves behind a large and loving
    family. His legacy will live on through his four children--Larry Winn
    III, Douglas Winn, Janet Payne, and Cynthia Burr--plus 8 grandchildren
    and 16 great-grandchildren.
      Larry's legacy will live on in other public servants whom he mentored
    and inspired. He left an indelible mark on this body, and because of
    his leadership here, Kansas and the United States is better off for it.
      On behalf of the United States Congress, we are thankful for Larry
    Winn's service to our country. He is in God's hands now. May he rest in
    eternal peace.

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