[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING SENATOR WENDELL H. FORD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MORGAN McGARVEY

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2024

  Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the 
great leaders in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, former 
Governor and United States Senator Wendell H. Ford. September 8, 2024, 
would have been Senator Ford's 100th birthday, and the day brought back 
many special memories for me, my family, and countless others whose 
lives were improved by his lifetime of service.
  Born September 8, 1924, he is the first and only Kentuckian to ever 
serve as a state senator, lieutenant governor, governor, and United 
States senator. His career started in 1965 as a state senator from his 
hometown of Owensboro, later saw him serve as the Commonwealth's 49th 
governor from 1971 to 1974, and concluded with his retirement in 
January 1999 after four consecutive terms in the United States Senate.
  First elected to the Senate in December 1974, he served as Democratic 
whip from 1991 until his retirement. In the Senate, he played a key 
role in shaping many key pieces of legislation, including the National 
Voter Registration Act, the Federal Aviation Administration 
Authorization Act of 1994, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the 
National Energy Security Act of 1992, the Aviation Safety and Capacity 
Act of 1990, the Airport and Airways Capacity Expansion Act of 1987, 
the Age Discrimination Act in Employment Act Amendments of 1986, the 
Tobacco Reform Act of 1985, and the Energy Security Act of 1977. As 
chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, he led 
the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for the inaugurations of 
President George H.W. Bush in 1989 and President William Jefferson 
Clinton in 1993 and 1997.
  In reflecting on Senator Ford's long and accomplished career--and 
what it might mean for us today--three thoughts stand out:
  First, he believed with all his heart that the sole purpose of 
government was to serve people, and he lived that philosophy every day 
in every office he held.
  Second, he thought that politics was an honorable calling and that 
government at any level could not succeed unless individuals from all 
walks of life took time to become involved and engaged.
  Third, coming from the state that produced Henry Clay, he recognized 
democracy could not work without compromise involving give and take 
from all sides. He was fond of saying that there are no victories in 
Washington, only varying degrees of defeat.
  Senator Ford continued his life of service after his Senate career 
ended, teaching at the University of Kentucky, working with young 
people at the Wendell H. Ford Education Center in Owensboro, and 
serving as a mentor to countless young leaders across the Commonwealth. 
He passed away on January 22, 2015, at the age of 90. His wife Jean 
celebrated her 100th birthday on March 1 of this year and still lives 
in the family home in Owensboro. She and Senator Ford were married 71 
years before his passing.
  On a personal note, I would add that one of those young people 
receiving Senator Ford's wise counsel was me. He was a tremendous role 
model for me, a close friend of my family, and someone who demonstrated 
the true meaning of public service. Let his lifetime commitment of 
service be an example for us all as we remember him on the occasion of 
his 100th birthday.

                          ____________________