    [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
    [Senate]
    [Page S135]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                           REMEMBERING MATT HILLYARD

      Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a remarkable
    man whose smile and beautiful soul touched the lives of everyone he
    met. Matthew Hillyard passed away peacefully at his family home on
    January 4, 2018, to the grief of not only his family and close friends
    but to everyone who knew him in the Utah Legislature.
      Matt, the loving son of Lyle and Alice Hillyard, was born with Down
    syndrome. His parents were told he would not live past adolescence; yet
    he defied the odds and packed a lot of life into 42 years on Earth.
    Matt never let his disability define him; instead, he shared his
    special light with everyone who caught his eye.
      Matt's father, Lyle, has served as a Utah lawmaker since 1981. The
    father-and-son duo became a fixture of the Utah Legislature. When
    things got tense on the senate floor, Matt's innocence stood as a light
    to other lawmakers, defusing tension and stress during the most heated
    debates. He made friends with people from all walks of life--be they
    legislators, security guards, or schoolchildren visiting the capitol.
    Matt's smile and his big hugs were legendary, and people would often
    line up to be the recipient of his affection.
      I had the privilege of enjoying Matt's hugs and greetings on many
    occasions, and I never left his side without feeling I had been in the
    presence of a truly remarkable son of our Heavenly Father. Legislative
    bodies across our country would be well-served with the steady presence
    of someone like Matt, a kind soul who gives love and unwavering
    friendship to all.
      I believe there is a special place in Heaven for Matt, who
    personified the pure love of Christ. He lived a life of sweet
    innocence, friendship, and love. His warm embrace and sweet smile will
    be greatly missed by all. It is my greatest hope that his family and
    all who knew him will find joy and peace in the memories we have shared
    with this extraordinary man.

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