[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2722-S2723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DENIS O'HAYER

 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, today I am proud to honor in the 
Record a dedicated Georgian who has elevated media political coverage 
and served as a true ambassador of the First Amendment.
  It is not every day that a politician honors a journalist on the 
floor of the Senate, but when one who is as accomplished as Denis 
O'Hayer of Georgia announces his upcoming retirement, it is only right 
to recognize his 40 years of radio and TV work and achievements.
  Denis O'Hayer will retire next month from Atlanta's National Public 
Radio affiliate, WABE, where he has hosted of a number of programs 
since he joined the station 2009. Since 2015, Denis has gotten the day 
started for countless Atlantans who tune in for his news updates on 
``Morning Edition.'' The listenership for his program has more than 
doubled since he took the helm as host. His podcast, ``Political 
Breakfast,'' is a more recent hit and shows Denis's adaptability and 
one of the many reasons for his success in the field of broadcast 
journalism.
  Denis began his work in the Atlanta media market in 1978 in radio 
with WGST and as a host with Public Broadcasting Atlanta after moving 
to the city from his radio career in Connecticut.
  During his distinguished career, Denis has also worked in television 
as a freelance reporter with CNN and as a political reporter at Atlanta 
NBC affiliate WXIA-TV for 11 years.
  The Atlanta Press Club, which is one of the largest and most active 
professional journalism associations in the country, has benefitted 
from Denis's leadership as president.
  Denis, his distinguished WABE colleague Rose Scott, and their team 
earned an Edward R. Murrow award in 2012 for their television broadcast 
special focused on the fight against child sex trafficking in Atlanta 
called ``How to Stop the Candy Shop.''
  The Georgia Association of Broadcasters named Denis Broadcaster of 
the Year in 2014, and in 2015, he was named to the Atlanta Press Club 
Hall of Fame.
  Denis is respected by colleagues across the spectrum for the quality 
of his work, his professionalism, and the fact that he is a consummate 
gentleman. My staff has always praised Denis, and we have looked for 
ways to work together whenever possible.
  Over the years, in addition to politics both local and national, 
Denis and I forged a friendship and respect for each other that went 
beyond work, regularly sharing reports about our families and 
discussing our shared enjoyment of travel.
  I wish Denis the very best of luck in his retirement, and I am 
thankful that he will continue to contribute to Georgia politics as a 
commentator in the future. Our political discourse will be better for 
it.

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