[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 199 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING DON WATTENBARGER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in September the community of London, 
KY, lost one of its treasured residents with the passing of Don 
Wattenbarger at the age of 81. Don's remarkable life will be remembered 
for his kindness, his service to others, and his dedication to helping 
Kentucky's children celebrate Christmas. Overcoming a childhood bout 
with polio, Don never let his physical difficulties stop him from 
helping others, and as a fellow survivor of the disease, I admire him 
for it.
  I would especially like to remember Don's work with the Laurel County 
Sheriff's Department, which he joined as a part-time deputy in 1986. 
His official responsibilities included working as a bailiff in court, 
but this community will remember him for his boundless care and 
generosity outside of his job description. Even after his retirement in 
2007, Don hardly slowed down, continuing to be a force for good in his 
community.
  Working with the Cumberland Valley Fraternal Order of Police, Don was 
instrumental in leading and maintaining the Shop with a Cop program in 
Laurel County. Every year, Don and his wife Virginia would collect 
donations to help children in need have a joy-filled Christmas. It is a 
heart-warming program that helps so many children in this community. 
One of Don's friends, Karlyle Young, remembered a particular family 
with several children who participated in the Shop with a Cop program. 
Their father had recently lost his job, and money was tight around the 
house. The children asked if they could use some of the money to buy 
food, instead of Christmas toys. Don and the other volunteers collected 
extra donations to help buy this family food and make sure the children 
also received Christmas presents. Working with the sheriff's department 
for more than 20 years, Don helped spread Christmas cheer to more than 
5,000 local children.
  Don also served as a longtime board member of the Laurel County Drug 
Abuse Resistance Education, D.A.R.E., program, teaching children about 
the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. For his dedication to this 
cause, North and South Laurel high schools present an annual 
scholarship to a graduating senior in Don's honor. He was also an 
active member of the local Shriner's Club, the masonic lodge, and 
several other service organizations that helped those in need in Laurel 
County.
  In 2018, the city of London recognized Don's incredible lifetime of 
service by honoring him as a ``Living Treasure.'' His respect, 
compassion, and charitable nature will continue to be remembered and 
appreciated by the thousands of lives he made better. I would ask my 
Senate colleagues to join me in expressing our gratitude and deep 
condolences to Don's family, especially his beloved wife of 51 years 
Virginia, his friends, and the Laurel County community that cherished 
him.

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