[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       TRIBUTE TO MARK ABERNATHY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2018

  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Mark 
Abernathy, an incredible individual, close friend and trusted 
confidant, and to celebrate his life and service to our community in 
California's Central Valley, the great state of California, and our 
country. Mark will be missed by so many that have been influenced by 
his political acumen, his unparalleled wit, and his spirit and passion 
for his neighbors and community. He passed away on January 27, 2018, 
and I know that our community joins me in mourning this loss.
  Mark was born and raised in the Land of Lincoln, appropriate given 
that the principles of Abraham Lincoln was a seminal influence that 
would eventually shape much of Mark's patriotism and worldview. From a 
young age, Mark learned the value of hard work and perseverance while 
growing up on the family farm with his sister Jill, his brother Mike, 
and his cousins, growing corn and raising hogs. During that time, he 
developed an adoration for baseball--and especially the St. Louis 
Cardinals--that would remain with him for the rest of his life. Mark 
attended Western Illinois University and paid his tuition fees by 
literally ``singing for his supper'' as a guitar player and singer for 
the ``The Rising Sons,'' a country western band that he was a member of 
all throughout college. He graduated with degrees in agriculture and 
biology and felt a call to serve his country shortly after, joining the 
United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and serving as a Captain 
and electronic warfare officer from 1968 to 1972.
  The Air Force eventually brought Mark to California, where he first 
uncovered a natural talent for campaigning and an interest in local 
politics. While stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, he 
served as Chair of the Fairlake Young Republicans Club, where he met 
Cathy Swajian, who would become the love of his life and inseparable 
partner while raising two daughters and becoming a fixture in 
Republican politics.
  Bakersfield welcomed the Abernathys when they moved in 1981, and Mark 
became involved in state and local politics through when he founded his 
political consulting firm, Western Pacific Research, which would grow 
to influence and create some of the most effective Young Republican 
groups and elect many elected officials on the local, state, and 
national levels through grassroots political campaigns. Mark was the 
type of person who never gave up--whether that meant working all 
throughout the night to finalize and execute campaign messaging or 
strategy, or just walking door to door to register voters and share his 
passion for community engagement. He adhered, and he made sure his 
campaigns adhered, to the values and principles enshrined in our 
Constitution and our nation's founding documents. Yet his great 
emphasis toward civic responsibility was only surpassed by his devotion 
to his faith and to his family, never missing a softball game or the 
opportunity to take his beloved daughters, Margaret and Madeline, to a 
baseball game. He was a man of exceptional character and talent, and 
his unparalleled 97 percent candidate victory record serves as a simple 
testament to the success he had in mastering his craft.
  Perhaps most telling of Mark's legacy are the many currently-serving 
elected officials whom he worked with and helped to shape, myself 
included. Many of my closest friends and colleagues in the Central 
Valley--as well as former Governor Schwarzenegger during the 
gubernatorial recall campaign--worked with and listened to Mark in 
order to win their campaigns and serve the community and country that 
has given so much to us all. Mark always stressed the importance of 
involving our youth in politics and bringing a sense of passion to all 
that one does. Mark's political talent made him incredible, but his 
devotion to God and ability to inspire faith in others is what made him 
exceptional. He never gave up hope that goodness and God's will would 
prevail with hard work and belief.
  The city of Bakersfield, Kern County and the State of California have 
lost a brilliant mind and an integral citizen of the community, and 
Judy and I have lost a treasured friend. His passing was a shock to 
those who knew him, and we will miss his advice, humor, tenacity and 
character for years to come. But he will be remembered as a leader who 
inspired generations of Republicans to fight for their principles and 
beliefs and to remain bold in strengthening the ties among faith, 
family and community. On behalf of the House and the 23rd Congressional 
District of California, we remember the remarkable life of Mark 
Abernathy and extend our most heartfelt condolences to his wife, Cathy, 
and daughters, Margaret and Madeline.

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