[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      REMEMBERING FRED KELLY GRANT

 Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, today I honor Fred Kelly Grant. In 
March, our Nation unfortunately lost a reasoned, dedicated, and 
outstanding advocate for locally driven decision-making. However, Fred 
leaves a lasting remembrance in the extraordinarily positive impact he 
had on so many people.
  Fred, who was born in South Carolina and grew up in Idaho, earned a 
degree in history at the College of Idaho before earning his law degree 
at the University of Chicago Law School. His early career included 
serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Baltimore from 1963-1965. He 
then served as Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City, where he 
was appointed chief of the organized crime division. He then practiced 
criminal law in private practice before returning to Idaho and serving 
as counsel for two former Idaho Governors, Cecil Andrus and John Evans. 
He also served as law clerk for Judge Edward J. Lodge from 1975-1980, 
and he provided legal, political assistance to local governments, 
businesses, and individuals throughout his career. Further, Fred served 
on multiple commissions, authored books, and led organizations. This 
includes him helping to start the Stand and Fight Club focused on 
preventing regulatory agencies from doing economic harm to rural 
America.
  Countless people all around the country were influenced and helped by 
Fred. Fred was a long-time Idaho lawyer, but his influence and know-how 
reached far beyond our Idaho borders. In a 2017 Washington Times 
Article, Fred was aptly characterized as an ``unsung hero of rural 
America.'' He gave needed weight to requiring the Federal Government to 
coordinate with localities when implementing new rules. He emphasized 
local policy and local plans as drivers of the economy. Fred championed 
this effort in Idaho and nationally, extending important information 
and experience to other local governments across the nation. In so 
doing, he advanced the ideal of those closest to the land rightly 
driving natural resources and environmental solutions.
  This emphasis on locally driven, collaborative land management 
decisions was the central focus of the Owyhee Initiative. Fred 
masterfully provided local leadership at a critical time in the 
history--and future--of Owyhee County. The Owyhee Initiative, ushered 
into law through the hard work and strength of purpose of Fred and 
other Owyhee Initiative partners, maintains a thoughtful balance of 
multiple uses required for the betterment of an amazing part of our 
great state and country. The collaborative efforts furthered in the 
Owyhee Initiative remain an example of the great achievements that are 
possible when we all come to the table and work through the differences 
to find the common ground.
  My staff and I knew him best during the many years of sustained 
effort on the Owyhee Initiative, yet we are aware that his life reached 
many people well beyond that important work. Many have shared messages 
describing Fred. The tributes share words in common: perseverance, 
remarkable intelligence, created lasting friendships, wisdom, deeply 
caring, empathetic, perceptive, quick wit, and love. All of these 
characteristics and more are but a start in describing Fred.
  For me, perhaps the sense of personal respect and understanding I had 
for Fred are what seem most powerful. The previously mentioned 
Washington Times article from three years ago, included a quote from 
Fred stating, ``I'm tempted all the time to retire . . . But, I truly 
believe in this nation and I think there are too few people who 
understand and believe in the core principle of the federal republic, 
and if we lose that, I believe we lose what makes the Constitution the 
most perfect instrument of government that's ever been created.'' He 
lived this and left a lasting charge for all of us never to let up in 
smartly pushing back against Federal supersession of local decision-
making. I extend my deepest sympathy to Fred's widow, Carol, and all of 
Fred's family and friends. We all miss Fred and are grateful for his 
life, legacy and friendship.

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