[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6645-S6646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING TOM EMBERTON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, last month, Kentucky lost a statesman, 
a model gentleman, and one of the key mentors of my early career. 
Former Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Tom Emberton of Edmonton, KY, 
passed away this October in a tragic house fire, a sudden and 
devastating loss for the entire Commonwealth. Today, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Tom's legacy of public service and 
paying tribute to his extraordinary career.
  Tom was born and raised in south central Kentucky and prioritized 
service to that distinctive community from the outset of his career. He 
served a 4-year tour of duty with the U.S. Air Force then returned to 
the Commonwealth for an undergraduate degree at Western Kentucky 
University and a law degree from the University of Louisville School of 
Law. Not long after, he moved to Metcalfe County to serve as county 
attorney, beginning his long work on behalf of the region.
  I first got to know Tom a few years later when, upon returning to 
Kentucky after a stint in Washington, DC, I got involved with his 1971 
gubernatorial campaign. Four years prior, Louie B. Nunn had become the 
Commonwealth's first Republican Governor in two decades, and Tom bet he 
could build on his success to bring another four years of conservative 
leadership to the Commonwealth. Tom's campaign was instructive for me; 
he traveled all across Kentucky, including to deeply Democratic 
strongholds, to preach the Republican policies that most Kentuckians 
agreed with but, historically, did not vote for. Ultimately, Tom 
couldn't pull out a win that year--my future colleague in the U.S. 
Senate Wendell Ford was elected--but he earned respect from leaders and 
voters across Kentucky.
  Tom was undeterred by his electoral loss and returned to Metcalfe 
County

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to continue his work on behalf of his neighbors and build his law 
career. In recognition of Tom's outstanding service to the Commonwealth 
and ability to breach partisan divides, a Democratic Governor appointed 
him to a vacancy on the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 1987. Voters 
reelected him to that position twice, and his peers appointed him to 
serve as chief judge of the court of appeals, a position he held until 
2004. By the time of his retirement, the entire Kentucky legal 
community recognized this once-upstart conservative as a widely revered 
senior statesman.
  Throughout the course of his career, Tom made sure to expand the 
scope of his service beyond the courtroom and the ballot box. He 
maintained lifelong involvement with the WKU community, serving with 
distinction on the school's board of regents and as the WKU Alumni 
Association Board President. He received repeated recognition from 
community organizations based in and around Metcalfe County, including 
the local chamber of commerce and area development district. The 
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet even named Thomas D. Emberton Bridge in 
Metcalfe County in his honor.
  Along the way, Tom and his wife Julia Lee built an amazing home and 
family in Metcalfe County. His two children, Laura and Tom Jr., five 
grandchildren, and recently arrived great-grandchildren were the light 
of his life. I had the pleasure of visiting the Emberton family over 
the years and reminiscing with Tom about his campaign days and 
discussing the current state of politics and policy in the 
Commonwealth. He and Julia Lee also built a special relationship with 
my wife, Elaine, that all of us have cherished for many years.
  I was shocked to hear of Tom's sudden passing last month in a fire, 
when he heroically saved his wife's life and perished inside his home. 
Elaine and I are mourning alongside the entire Emberton family and hope 
they can find some solace in this difficult time. On behalf of the 
entire Senate, I honor Tom for his service to Kentucky and offer 
prayers to the Emberton family as they memorialize Tom's incredible 
life and career.

                          ____________________