[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING BRAD KELLAR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Self) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SELF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a pillar of the Hunt 
County community. In a world filled with media pundits and talking 
heads, Brad Kellar was a journalist in every sense of the word. There 
is a void left by Brad's passing, and I honor his memory today while 
borrowing excerpts from Brad's colleague, Travis Hairgrove.
  In the hearts and minds of people across Hunt County, the Herald-
Banner newspaper and Brad Kellar were one and the same, and the two 
names were used interchangeably for the 30 years that he served his 
community as a tireless reporter of news stories, both big and small.
  Even more important than his work ethic were the relationships Brad 
built and the trust he earned through the care he put into his 
reporting and through his kind, affable nature. Many Hunt County 
residents came to know him as a friend, and his readers enjoyed the 
collective giggles and groans brought on by Brad's predictably corny 
puns and self-deprecating jokes.
  Brad's beloved wife, Vida, said: ``He was loved and he touched a lot 
of people. He loved his job, he loved writing, he loved the art of 
making a story, he loved the people of Greenville, and could find the 
good in just about anybody.''
  With Brad being such a household name in Hunt County, many forget 
that he was originally from Illinois. This, however, didn't affect his 
devotion to his adopted community that was evidenced by his sacrifice 
and commitment to service.
  Some of the award-winning things he wrote were picked up by the 
Associated Press, and it was around one of those times that he received 
an offer from The New York Times to join their staff. He actually 
considered moving to New York, but ultimately turned down the job 
because he and Vida wanted their children to grow up in a town where 
they knew everyone, and therefore, everyone would know what their kids 
were up to. Also, Brad loved what he did, and he genuinely cared for 
the community he lived in and wrote about.
  Brad's dedication to service also made an impression on his eldest 
son, Nick, who went on to study journalism at Texas A&M University-
Commerce and later worked in mass media for several years. Nick 
recently said: For me, he was a role model, and he showed me what it 
was to be a man.
  Brad's love for his community wasn't limited to the way he did his 
job. It was accentuated by the way he poured himself into the lives of 
others, particularly with the kids at his wife's daycare, Stepping 
Stones Learning Academy.
  Brad often visited the daycare center where he encouraged the 
children to be inquisitive, and he rarely missed the opportunity to let 
them know that they were special and that they were loved.
  The extent to which Brad cherished people, especially children, was 
probably intensified by the complications his daughter, Jaylynn, went 
through when she was born prematurely 24 years ago. At one point they 
thought that they might lose her, but as soon as they knew she was 
going to be okay, Brad held Jaylynn in his arms, and Vida heard him 
say, ``Love is going to hold you because God has put His hand on you.''
  While the example of love and devotion that Brad showed his family 
will continue to inspire them for the rest of their lives, the extent 
to which he touched the lives of so many has been reflected by the 
flood of condolences and memories that have been shared since his 
passing.
  I conclude my remarks with a remembrance from our mutual friend, 
Greenville Mayor Jerry Ransom, who commented at a city council meeting 
that, ``Brad was a staple in our community with his steadfast reporting 
of Greenville and Hunt County news. More than anything, I think he was 
also a very proud father, husband, and friend.''

                          ____________________