[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E726-E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CONGRESSMAN G.V. ``SONNY'' MONTGOMERY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MICHAEL GUEST

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 2020

  Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, the State of Mississippi is known for many 
things--its magnolias, catfish, southern charm, and Sonny Montgomery. 
Today, August 5, is the 100th anniversary of his birth and I would like 
to take the opportunity to pay tribute to this legendary figure in 
Mississippi history.
  Congressman Sonny Montgomery was a soldier, a public servant, a 
Veteran, and a southern gentleman. His friends called him ``Mr. 
Veteran'' and ``Mr. National Guard.'' He loved his family, his friends, 
his university, his state, his country and our God.
  No one could meet Sonny Montgomery and not love his infectious smile 
and genuine warmth. He had an easy grin that made almost everyone he 
encountered feel like an old and trusted friend. While he travelled 
around the world, everyone knew Sonny's home was Meridian, Mississippi. 
And Mississippians knew and loved Sonny and they will for many 
generations to come.
  Sonny Montgomery was guided by faith and principle. His strong 
character and integrity endeared him to many no matter their political 
allegiances or social status. He was genuinely

[[Page E727]]

well liked on Capitol Hill, and no one on either side of the aisle ever 
questioned his sincerity, his integrity, or his independence. Sonny 
believed that partisanship should never get in the way of what he saw 
was good for the nation.
  His philosophy for life and leadership focused on faith, patriotism, 
relationships and perseverance. This is what Sonny Montgomery called 
``staying the course.''
  After graduating from Mississippi State University in 1943, Sonny 
Montgomery was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He 
served with the 12th Armored Division in Europe during World War II and 
earned the Bronze Star Medal with ``V'' for Valor device for capturing 
a German machine gun nest.
  After World War II, he joined the Mississippi Army National Guard. In 
1951, he served on active duty again during the Korean War as a member 
of the 31st Infantry Division. In May 1961, as a Lieutenant Colonel, 
Sonny escorted a group of Freedom Riders from the Alabama border to 
Jackson. Our late colleague John Lewis was on that bus. Sonny retired 
as a major general in 1980 after 35 years of military service.
  On January 3, 1967, Sonny Montgomery was sworn in as a Congressman 
from the district I represent today. Sonny's greatest legislative 
victory is the enactment of the bill which bears his name--the 
Montgomery GI Bill. As a World War II Veteran, he believed the country 
should provide educational benefits to its service members, and the 
combination of military service and a college degree would make these 
individuals valuable assets to the country. Sonny Montgomery saw the 
educational shortfall as a direct threat to America's military 
readiness and national security and used the GI Bill to reinvigorate 
the volunteer base of America's military.
  In October 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the 
Montgomery GI Bill. Under the new education benefits, Veterans with two 
years of active service who contributed $1,200 of their own money were 
eligible to receive tuition payments of $300 a month for 36 months. The 
new GI Bill was also the first to offer education benefits to National 
Guard and Reserve personnel.
  Another of Sonny Montgomery's achievements was the creation of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. His bipartisan efforts elevated the 
Veterans Administration into an official cabinet department in March 
1989. President George H. W. Bush offered Montgomery the position of 
secretary of the new department, but he decided to continue to serve 
the people of Mississippi in Congress.
  As freshman members of the 90th Congress, Sonny Montgomery and George 
H. W. Bush began a friendship that lasted until the Congressman passed 
away. It is said this bipartisan coalition was only challenged during 
their ``do or die'' dollar a game paddleball matches in the House gym 
with more bragging rights on the line. President Bush wrote, ``While I 
served in Congress and after that in the Executive Branch of 
government, Sonny remained a close confidant, a man whose judgement I 
always trusted, a man whose friendship gave me comfort when the going 
got tough.'' Sonny was a frequent visitor to the White House and often 
spent holidays with the Bush family.
  Sonny Montgomery served along with the administrations of seven 
presidents during his three decades in the House chamber. His legacy of 
public service stretches across generations and party lines and is a 
testament to America's strong national defense. Sonny retired from 
Congress in 1997 and returned to Meridian. Sonny was awarded the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2005.
  Sonny Montgomery was a loyal son to Mississippi, from his birth to 
his passing, he was one of ours. But his work and legacy belong to 
America. We are all indebted to Sonny for making our great nation what 
it is today.
  Sonny Montgomery said, ``Patriotism is a pretty simple word, but also 
a beautiful word to most Americans.'' Sonny Montgomery exemplified 
patriotism. The gentleman from Mississippi is recognized and remembered 
on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

                          ____________________