[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4478]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF JAMES C. KIRKPATRICK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 2 minutes.
  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, there are many memories that come to mind 
when I think of Missouri's longest serving Secretary of State, Jim 
Kirkpatrick, of Warrensburg, Missouri. There was the quick laugh and 
sparkling eyes that often calmed a political confrontation. There was 
the always present Irish green tie, the green jacket, the green 
stationery, the green ink, the green furniture. In fact, everything in 
the Secretary of State's office when I had the privilege to follow him 
there was some shade of green.
  It is a privilege for me today, the only Republican elected Secretary 
of State in Missouri in the last seven decades, to join with the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) as we honor the memory of 
Missouri's ``Mr. Democrat'' as its most Irish politician this week of 
Saint Patrick's Day.
  Many Missourians remember Jim Kirkpatrick working to establish 
statewide voter registration, directing two winning campaigns for 
better roads, and championing the establishment of a records management 
and archives division in State government.
  Jim Kirkpatrick instinctively understood Tip O'Neill's axiom that all 
politics is local, as he crisscrossed the State for two decades eagerly 
meeting with citizens wherever he went.
  Others remember Jim Kirkpatrick and his newspapers. He worked his way 
up to be the editor of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal. He then 
moved to edit the Jefferson City News and Tribune. He was the publisher 
of the Windsor Review and Lamar Daily Democrat. It was Missouri 
Governer Forrest Smith who first brought him into State government as 
his administrative assistant in 1948.
  What I remember most about him was he put ``service'' in public 
service. When he left office after five terms, his commitment to the 
people of Missouri and to the job done by the Secretary of State's 
office was as strong as ever. He continued to dedicate himself to the 
efforts of his office during his last week as a State official with the 
same concern that I am sure he had during his first week.
  In 1985, Jim retired to Warrensburg and to the campus of Central 
Missouri State University, where he graduated, served on the Board of 
Regents and led in effort after effort.
  His office in the Ward Edwards Library was the replica of his office 
in the State capitol. His lectures to the students were high points for 
them and him. Jim and his wife traveled with campus groups, went to 
hundreds of campus events, and were involved in the community as a 
great team until Jim's death.
  Next week, the campus and the community will officially dedicate the 
new James C. Kirkpatrick Library at Central Missouri State University. 
Jim Kirkpatrick's legacy of service continues.

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