[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26232]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO THE LATE EARL GOODWIN, FORMER ALABAMA STATE SENATOR

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I pay tribute today to a dear friend and 
Alabama icon, Mr. Earl Goodwin. Earl passed away on Friday, October 24, 
2003 at the age of 93. He and I and our families have been close 
friends for nearly 40 years, and his death is a great loss for the 
State of Alabama.
  Earl was a soldier in the United States Armed Forces, fighting on the 
beaches of Normandy. He made multiple trips back to England to pick up 
more groups of troops bringing them over to France. He completed these 
missions in aircraft that were unsafe because of their frequent crash 
landings. Earl was a true war hero, who put love of country before 
everything else.
  After the war, he returned to Alabama and eventually created Bush Hog 
which became one of the world's foremost manufacturer of farm 
implements. Bush Hog employs hundreds of Dallas County residents, and 
has made great contributions in economic development to the region. 
Earl was a visionary with a smart mind for business. He will certainly 
be remembered for the tremendous difference he made in Dallas County.
  Throughout his time in business, Earl was active in the community and 
politically astute. A lifelong Democrat, he became a prominent member 
of the Alabama State Senate, worked for Governor George Wallace, worked 
to elect Governor Don Siegelman, and served as a National Democratic 
Committeeman.
  Senator Goodwin is an example of the American success story. Born 
into poverty, Earl took adversity and challenged it in every way 
possible. He was a war hero, a successful businessman, a husband of 61 
years, and a father and grandfather.
  Earl Goodwin will be missed by all those who knew him, and I hope 
this tribute exemplifies, in a small way, the kind of man that he was.

                          ____________________