[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22852-22853]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO JOHN ROUSH

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my good 
friend, the twentieth President of Centre College in Danville, 
Kentucky, John Roush.
  I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to John Roush, the 
students and faculty at Centre College, and the City of Danville, 
Kentucky for their successful bid to host the only vice presidential 
debate of the 2000 election. Under the leadership of John Roush, the 
college and the community worked together to make the debate at Centre 
College a reality.
  By all accounts, the debate in Danville was a success. Even though 
Centre College is the smallest higher-education institution to have 
ever hosted a presidential or vice presidential debate, they exceeded 
expectations and pulled-off a top-rate event. The town and college 
coordinated events throughout the day of the debate to build 
anticipation and provide opportunities for those who did not have 
tickets to participate in the occasion. An outdoor concert, open to the 
public, was held on Centre's campus and featured Maysville native and 
celebrity Nick Clooney, gospel singer Larnelle Harris, and the 
Owensboro Symphony Orchestra. Then, attendees were treated to a live, 
big-screen viewing of the vice presidential debate.
  President John Roush's fingerprints were all over the events of the 
day; his creativity and ingenuity a benefit to everyone who 
participated. Whether you watched the debate from the screen on 
Centre's lawn, the seats of Centre's Norton Center for Fine Arts or on 
television in your home, the professionalism with which John led the 
extensive preparations for the debate were apparent.
  Just talk to anyone at Centre College, in Danville, or in all of 
Kentucky for that matter--they will tell you that in the two years John 
has served as president at Centre, he has rallied students, faculty, 
and city residents with his passion for excellence. He has been 
described by his peers and co-workers as having an ``infectious 
enthusiasm'' and being ``full of integrity.'' He has been characterized 
as ``energetic'' and ``impressive.'' I know from my own personal 
experience with and observation of John that all of these descriptions 
are true. I am proud to call him a fellow Kentuckian and friend.
  At this point, Mr. President, I would like to read into the Record an 
excerpt from an October 7, 2000, editorial by Washington Post writer 
David Von Drehle that ran in the Louisville Courier-Journal, which 
perfectly sums up the atmosphere in Danville, KY, on the day of the 
debate.

       Centre College hosted the debate. This unlikely setting--
     far from the nearest airport, in a place without many four-
     lane roads, in fact--turned out to be one of the best ever. 
     The whole day was a happy pageant of Norman Rockwell meets 
     Alexis de Tocqueville.
       Tired and jaded political junkies stepped from their cars 
     and buses into an afternoon that was either the very end of 
     summer or

[[Page 22853]]

     the very beginning of fall. Clear sky, warm sun, fresh 
     breeze. Though the trees all appeared to be green, a few 
     golden leaves began to drift toward the grass of the college 
     common as evening approached.
       On the common, bands played marches and choirs sang gospel 
     hymns. Hours before the debate began, the gently sloping 
     ground filled with grandparents on lawn chairs and moms and 
     dads on blankets and children who twirled and ran and tumbled 
     and plucked leaves from their hair. There were young men in 
     shorts and their sweethearts in sun dresses enjoying the day 
     and preparing to watch the clash on giant screens.
       Speakers read passages from great documents of American 
     history--the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburn 
     Address--and an orchestra played the national anthem and ``My 
     Old Kentucky Home.'' Kids waved flags.

  There are no words I can add to more accurately describe the picture-
perfect day John Roush orchestrated at Centre College on October 5, 
2000.
  On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the United States Senate, I 
applaud you, John Roush, for what you have accomplished at Centre 
College and thank you for your commitment to higher education.

                          ____________________