[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5642-5643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BRUCE GWINN

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a special 
friend and outstanding public servant, Bruce Gwinn, who passed away on 
January 29, 2003, following a year-long battle with cancer.
  I share the grief of many here in Washington who came to know and 
love Bruce Gwinn in the course of his 30 years working on Capitol Hill. 
And, of course, my most heartfelt sympathies go out to Bruce's wife, 
May, his three children, Dylan, Maria and Byron, and his entire 
extended family.
  Bruce was born and raised in Charleston, SC, and graduated from Duke 
University in 1971. After serving in the Army, Bruce moved to 
Washington to begin a career in public service. Following my election 
to the House of Representatives in 1974, Bruce came to

[[Page 5643]]

work for me as my first Legislative Director, and he served with me 
right up until I was elected to the Senate in 1980.
  Bruce was far more than a superb advisor--he was a valued and trusted 
friend.
  From 1981 to 1990, Bruce worked as a professional staffer on the 
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, where he 
served under three chairmen. He then served as a senior policy advisor 
for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, where he was 
responsible for all regulatory issues.
  In 1997, Bruce returned to work on the Energy and Commerce Committee, 
where he served as Congressman John Dingell's top advisor on 
international trade policy. True to form, he worked full-time right up 
until days before he passed away.
  Bruce Gwinn was of a rare and special breed. He was known by everyone 
with whom he came in contact as a supreme optimist. Although he had his 
share of challenges in life, Bruce was always thankful for what he had, 
and always thought the best of others. People were naturally drawn to 
Bruce because of his contagious smile and enormous heart. And he had 
the most uncanny ability to diffuse any tense situation with his 
endearing sense of humor.
  Although Bruce was a very soft-spoken man, when he spoke, you knew 
you could take his words to the bank. He was as knowledgeable as anyone 
on Capitol Hill, on a whole variety of issues.
  At any point in the past 20 years, Bruce could have taken his 
expertise on trade, commerce, consumer protection, and other important 
matters, and left the Hill for more lucrative employment.
  Bruce chose to stay in government. This surprised nobody. Bruce chose 
to stay in government because that's where he felt he could best serve 
the interests of hard-working Americans and their families. He chose to 
stay in government because he wanted to dedicate himself to improving 
the lives of others. Bruce Gwinn was, above all, an extraordinarily 
dedicated public servant.
  Edmund Burke once said, ``There is no greater glory than to work for 
the public's good.''
  Bruce lived by those words every day, and our nation owes him a debt 
of gratitude.
  Mr. President, Bruce Gwinn's life was cut short--he was only 53 years 
old, and in the prime of his life. And he will be terribly missed.
  But I came to the Floor of the Senate today not simply to mourn a 
loss--I came to the Floor to celebrate a life. The life of Bruce Gwinn 
was truly a life well-lived. He touched so many, and everyone of us he 
touched is a better person because of it. I am proud to have worked 
with Bruce, and lucky to have had him as a friend.
  I thank the President.

                          ____________________