[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         TRIBUTE TO TERRY LYNCH

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today in remembrance of a long-time 
former employee of mine, Terry Michael Lynch. Terry was killed Tuesday 
morning at the Pentagon in the tragic and senseless events of a day 
that will never be forgotten in America. Terry worked for me for over 
15 years, both in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and 
I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the life of a 
dedicated family man and a true patriot.
  Terry was born in 1952 in Youngstown, Ohio, Terry grew up as the son 
of a steel-factory administrator. he graduated from high school in 
Youngstown, and received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in 
history from Youngstown State. It was there that Terry met his wife of 
24 years, Jackie.
  Terry worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to former Alabama Republican 
Congressman Albert Lee Smith. Some of you might remember the 
Congressman. He began working for me in 1983, when I was a Member of 
the U.S. House of Representatives. When I entered the race for the 
United States Senate in 1986, Terry was one of the first volunteers to 
take personal time away from his family here in Virginia and travel 
throughout Alabama doing any task that was needed. Terry came over to 
the U.S. Senate with me as my Legislative Assistant assigned to the 
Armed Services Committee and continued in that position from 1987 
through 1994. In 1995, Terry became a professional staff member of the 
Senate Intelligence Committee and for two years brought his expertise 
to the Intelligence Committee. He subsequently worked as a member of 
the professional staff of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee 
chaired by Senator Specter. Terry was most recently employed by the 
consulting firm of Booz Allen and Hamilton.
  To say and give you all of this background does not touch the essence 
of Terry Lynch. He was one of the most loyal, caring, unpretentious, 
and compassionate human beings I have ever had the privilege of 
knowing. Terry was a foundation of strength and stability for everyone 
that knew and loved him. He was the kindest soul and the most dedicated 
and loving father to his two daughters, Tiffany and Ashley. Terry's 
passion for helping others, especially the men and women in uniform 
with which he so closely worked, was always evident over the course of 
his career. This week, former staff members have called from all over 
the world to express their deep grief. And, although they had not seen 
Terry in many years, he made such a strong impact on all of us that to 
this day, he still lives on in each of our hearts in some way. Terry 
Lynch's spirit and his memory will forever be with us--the people who 
worked with him and knew him in the House of Representatives, who 
worked with him and knew him in the Senate, and who worked with him and 
knew him in the Pentagon where he died.
  We are all, I believe, better people for having known Terry Michael 
Lynch.
  Terry was an intelligent man with a heart of gold. He was also a 
great American. His life should not have ended in this unfortunate and 
premature manner, because he had so much ahead of him. But I promise 
you I will do everything in my power to ensure that Terry's life, and 
the lives of all Americans affected by this terrible tragedy, did not 
end in vain.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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