[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21733]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOHN B. HYATT FROM COLUMBIA, MISSOURI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simmons). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate and acknowledge the 
life and memory of John B. Hyatt, a constituent and friend, a longtime 
Columbia, Missouri, businessman, a devoted husband and father, an avid 
golfer, a passionate Missouri Tiger fan, a community activist.
  John Hyatt was born in the small Missouri town of Fayette in 1924. He 
served our country, enlisting in the Navy at the age of 19. He was 
stationed in the Pacific during World War II and was honorably 
discharged in 1946.
  Upon his return home, John attended Central Missouri State University 
and excelled in basketball. In fact, Mr. Speaker, after graduation, he 
began his professional career as a high school coach.
  In order to supplement his modest coach's salary, John began selling 
life insurance. It became apparent that his prowess as a coach was only 
surpassed by his innate abilities as a salesman. He concluded a 
successful 40-year career with State Farm Insurance in 1994.
  John's greatest sale, however, was reserved for his personal life. It 
was in 1953 that he convinced his best friend's sister, Mary, to become 
his life's partner. Together they had two children, Vicky and Bill.
  On Wednesday, November 7, the Boone County Citizens for Good 
Government will pay tribute to John Hyatt posthumously with the 
Guardian of Good Government award. There can be, I think, no greater 
tribute. He was to me a good friend, a confidante, a sage political 
adviser, but not just in words, but in deeds.
  The 17th century philosopher Francis Bacon said this: He that gives 
good advice builds with one hand; he that gives good counsel and 
example builds with both. That describes the essence of my friend, John 
Hyatt.
  It was, in fact, John Hyatt who cofounded the Boone County Citizens 
for Good Government in the 1980s. In those early days, the group, under 
his watch, took a bold stand on some controversial issues and had a few 
setbacks. John remained undeterred. He was unafraid to challenge the 
status quo. Good government, John explained to me simply, deserves 
nothing less. John took those political lessons to heart, and the Boone 
County Citizens for Good Government resurfaced with a renewed 
commitment to candidates and community causes.
  He was then and remained fiercely independent. John believed strongly 
in the two-party system, and supported individuals in either party. It 
was our principles that John looked for, our integrity, our character. 
So to have John Hyatt in one's corner for an upcoming election was a 
strong ally for any candidate.
  John kept politics in perspective, however. It was, after all, family 
and friends that made life's journey worthwhile. He was an eternal 
optimist.
  Mr. Speaker, I am quite confident John never read the works of A.A. 
Willitts, yet the words of the author are descriptive of the man being 
honored by this tribute: ``Get into the habit of looking for the silver 
lining of the cloud, and when you have found it, continue to look at 
it, rather than at the leaden gray in the middle. . . . There is no 
path but will be easier traveled, no load but will be lighter, no 
shadow on heart or brain but will lift sooner for a person of 
determined cheerfulness.''
  Mr. Speaker, that is the legacy of John Hyatt. For those of us 
blessed to have known him, our lives have been enriched beyond measure. 
The less fortunate among us have been comforted by his generosity. Our 
community and its leaders have become better guardians of the public 
trust through his quiet challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, I add my name to those who gather and salute the memory 
of John Hyatt as a guardian of good government.

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