[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3538-S3539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   REMEMBERING RANDY ``R.D.'' KINSEY

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of 
R.D. Kinsey who passed away on July 11, 2022, at the age of 69. Mr. 
Kinsey was a husband, father, veteran, civil servant and beloved leader 
in the State of Arkansas with a reputation for wisdom and compassion.
  A native of South Florida, Kinsey moved to Arkansas after his service 
in the U.S. Air Force. After he was honorably discharged in 1972, he 
realized his passion and desire to uplift and advocate for his fellow 
veterans.
  Stepping into a new platform of service with the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs, Kinsey spent much of his time counseling combat 
veterans even

[[Page S3539]]

before post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries were 
formal diagnoses.
  Kinsey's friends recognized him as a man who actively worked to make 
positive changes for veterans throughout his career. Upon his 
retirement from civil service in 2000, he continued to blaze trails 
within the American Legion, serving in local, State, and national 
capacities. He was instrumental in founding American Legion Post 74 in 
North Little Rock, where he served as founding commander and commander 
for 14 years.
  He made an annual trip to Washington, DC, during the American 
Legion's testimony to Congress about its legislative priorities and 
advocated on behalf of Arkansas veterans.
  In 2018, he became the first African-American State commander of the 
American Legion of Arkansas. Kinsey was not focused on the tag-line and 
pressures that may arise from being the first minority to sit in the 
State commander seat because, in his words, ``All our blood runs the 
same.'' This was one of many examples of how he led his life with 
humility and selflessness.
  During his time in the Air Force, Kinsey specialized in security, 
where he fought to protect his fellow airmen in combat. During his time 
serving veterans, he fought to strengthen the benefits they earned. 
Service, advocacy, and security were his life's tenets.
  At the celebration of the American Legion's 100th anniversary, Kinsey 
said his time as commander was his way of giving back blessings to help 
others and what could be a more rewarding experience than to be able 
and help a veteran in need.
  He served in the greatest capacity alongside his wife, Dianna and 
their two daughters, Meredith and Allison and their grandsons. He was a 
loving father, caring coworker, servant leader, gracious husband, and 
friend to all. His wife recently said that his motto was ``For God and 
country.'' I hope we can learn from his example to remember the 
American blood flowing through all of us and work together to make this 
country better than we found it.
  I join R.D Kinsey's family, friends, and all Arkansans in mourning 
his passing. His fingerprint will forever mark Arkansas. From Florida, 
North Little Rock, Washington, and everywhere in between, his legacy 
will carry on with current and future generations. In his spirit we 
will continue to advance the benefits for and meet the needs of 
American veterans.

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