[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO RALPH BOLING

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Ralph Boling for his service to the state of Kentucky and the people of 
Hancock County. Ralph recently completed a special five-year term as 
Hancock County's Judge/Executive, during which he led the county 
through a remarkable period of growth and progress.
  Before beginning his political career, Ralph was a farmer and 
businessman in Hancock County, working as an oil field driller, farmer, 
Hancock County Road Foreman and as the Hawesville Water Superintendent. 
His work outside of public service gave him the advantage of having 
first-hand knowledge of the struggles of working families, and shaped 
his desire to make a difference in the Hawesville community.
  Following in his father's footsteps, Ralph's first endeavor in 
politics was a run for Hancock County Sheriff. He ran successfully in 
1969, and again in 1977, serving two terms as Sheriff. In the final 
months of his second term, President Ronald Reagan appointed Ralph as a 
United States Marshal for the Western district of Kentucky. He excelled 
as a U.S. Marshal and received a second appointment under President 
Reagan and a third appointment under President George Bush. During his 
12 years of service, Ralph received two of the highly distinguished 
``Awards for Excellent Performance.''
  While Ralph was honored to work in the Marshal's service, and loved 
his work under both President Reagan and President Bush's 
administrations, after his third term he decided it was time to 
exclusively serve the people of Hancock County. Ralph ran for Hancock 
County Judge/Executive and was elected to serve a special five-year 
term. Ralph always had the best interest of the county at heart, and 
encouraged the fiscal court to work together as a team despite 
political differences.
  During his term as Judge/Executive, Ralph made great strides for 
Hancock County. He successfully led the effort to close the county 
landfill and was instrumental in assuring the construction of a new 
Emergency Services Building. The county also built a new fire station, 
and purchased additional fire trucks and police cruisers for increased 
public safety.
  One of Ralph's achievements as Judge/Executive was his successful 
effort to build and repair many county roads. During Ralph's last two 
years as Judge, the fiscal court spent $2 million on Hancock roads, and 
obtained state funding to pave roads to Commonwealth Aluminum and 
Willamette and build bridges on Indian Hill and Goernig Road. He also 
helped establish the Hancock County Career Center. Ralph envisioned a 
bright future for Hancock County's workers and businesses, and he 
believed this center would be to the long-term benefit of the county.
  Ralph's term as Judge/Executive has ended, but Hancock County will 
feel the effects of his accomplishments for years to come. His motto 
was ``Together we can make a difference,'' and he has certainly proven 
this to be true. Ralph worked together with local law enforcement, 
state government, the U.S. Marshal's service and the Fiscal Court to 
make tremendous differences in people's lives. My colleagues and I 
thank you, Ralph, for your many years of service to Hancock County, the 
State of Kentucky and the United States.

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