[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 17 (Monday, January 28, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S696-S697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BOB LEEPER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for more than 30 years, the men and 
women of Paducah, KY, have prospered with the leadership of my friend, 
Bob Leeper, in city, State, and finally county government. There are 
few individuals more appreciated for their public service in western 
Kentucky. At the end of last year, Bob completed his term as McCracken 
County judge-executive, and I would like to take a moment to offer my 
gratitude and reflect on his many years of service.
  There is a common expression identifying two types of people who are 
elected to office: show horses and work horses. The first kind thrives 
when driving home a point in front of the camera or in making a bold 
headline. On the other hand, a work horse will forgo acclaim in favor 
of accomplishment and reject praise for progress. Without a doubt, Bob 
has spent his career as a work horse. His achievements will leave a 
lasting impact on the area and our Commonwealth.
  To say the least, Bob cared little for party labels. As a matter of 
fact, during his distinguished career, Bob hit the political 
``trifecta'' of sorts, having been elected by his constituents as a 
registered Democrat, then a Republican, and lastly as an Independent.
  In his first elected office as Paducah city commissioner, Bob also 
served as mayor pro tem and quickly earned his colleagues' respect. 
From there, Bob won a seat in the Kentucky State Senate. In Frankfort, 
Bob set himself apart as a constructive leader and a problemsolver. His 
reputation for handling complex issues with fairness garnered the 
appreciation of his fellow senators on both sides of the aisle.
  Reelected five times, Bob served for 24 years in Kentucky's 
legislature including as the chair of the senate appropriations and 
revenue committee. His work from this important post displayed his 
integrity, skill, and his characteristic nature as a work horse.
  Bob chose to leave the Senate in 2014, but that didn't end his career 
of public service. The same year, he was elected as the McCracken 
County judge-executive, the top job in county government. In that role, 
Bob had the opportunity to continue serving his community and making 
positive impacts on the lives of his neighbors. Among his proudest 
accomplishments, he includes a number of infrastructure improvements at 
the courthouse, jail, road department, and in the local parks. I 
enjoyed partnering with him on behalf of workers at Paducah's U.S. 
Department of Energy site.
  For his decades of service in Kentucky, the current members of the 
Paducah City Commission wanted to express their gratitude to Bob at his 
retirement with a lasting testament to his work. The commission 
unanimously voted to name a footbridge in his honor in Paducah. When 
completed, the Bob Leeper Bridge will connect the city and county's 
trail systems, a fitting tribute to a man who spent his career working 
to benefit his community.
  As he enters his retirement from public service, Bob plans to return 
to his first calling: treating patients at his chiropractic clinic. He 
also will spend more time volunteering, playing tennis, and relaxing 
with his beloved wife Gina. It is my privilege to join so many in 
McCracken County to thank Bob for his three decades of committed vision 
and leadership. I ask my Senate colleagues to help me congratulate 
Judge-Executive Bob Leeper on this milestone and to extend best wishes 
in his retirement.
  Mr. President, the Paducah Sun recently published an editorial 
expressing appreciation to Bob. I ask unanimous consent that the 
article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Paducah Sun, Jan. 17, 2019]

 Sincere Appreciation: Words of Thanks for Longtime Elected Leader Bob 
                                 Leeper

                        (By the Editorial Board)

       The inspirational quote was painted on Bob Leeper's office 
     wall at the McCracken County Courthouse in 2015, shortly 
     after he took over as county judge-executive.
       ``Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,'' the 
     quote from author Marianne Williamson reads. ``Our deepest 
     fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.''
       The motivational words stayed on that wall all four years, 
     serving as daily affirmation.
       ``It's a reminder that we all have purpose and sometimes 
     it's bigger than we even realized and we kind of have to 
     accept that place that we are in life, and sometimes it's 
     important you take a stand,'' Leeper said.
       A case could be made Leeper's life purpose, or at least one 
     of them, was serving his native Paducah and McCracken County, 
     which he did in his quiet, transparent and dignified way for 
     more than half his life across three offices.
       Leeper, 60, served 31 years total--three as a Paducah city 
     commissioner, 24 as a state senator, and a sole four-year 
     term as judge executive.
       He did not run for reelection, and turned over the county's 
     top leadership post to current judge-exec Craig Clymer 
     earlier this month.
       Leeper, a chiropractor by trade, is now enjoying his 
     ``political retirement,'' spending his time treating patients 
     at his clinic, volunteering in the community, and enjoying 
     one of his favorite hobbies--playing tennis.
       He doubts very seriously his name will ever appear on 
     another ballot, which is sure to be a healthy change for him 
     but an unfortunate one for the local community.
       ``Today, I'd say no, I don't think that's going to 
     happen,'' he said of someday running again for office. ``I 
     learned from four years ago that you never say absolutely no, 
     but I don't have any vision of anything right now.''
       Now is the time for us, and we hope area residents, to 
     thank Leeper for all his hard work on the public's behalf at 
     the local and state levels. He served us honestly and 
     admirably, often eschewing publicity or attention, and with 
     his constituents' best interests in mind.
       Frankly, leaders who put their communities first are rare 
     these days, and Leeper's presence and influence will be 
     greatly missed.

[[Page S697]]

       No one could have blamed Leeper if he's chosen to call it a 
     career back in 2014, when he left the Kentucky General 
     Assembly. However, he stepped up to lead McCracken County, 
     returning much needed stability to an office that had seen 
     turbulence during the previous administration.
       ``It was an opportunity for us to use some of the contacts 
     I'd made in Frankfort and make things better for the 
     community I grew up in,'' he said. ``It was difficult at 
     times, but we made some positive changes.''
       His proudest accomplishments as judge-executive, he told 
     The Sun this week, were largely centered on infrastructure at 
     the courthouse, jail, road department, and parks. They 
     weren't glamorous, didn't beg for bold headlines or TV spots, 
     but they needed doing.
       Leeper's next words are true to his laid-back personality:
       ``Sometimes you don't get to cut ribbons and that's OK with 
     me,'' he said. ``I was proud this court took that same 
     attitude and we were able to do things that needed to be 
     done, even the kind that you don't cut ribbons on.''
       ``We did it all without raising taxes and I think the 
     county is in a better place from Judge Clymer and the new 
     court.''
       Join us in congratulating Leeper on a distinguished 
     successful career. Through his leadership, we have a great 
     example for future leaders to emulate.

                          ____________________