[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 316-317]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF MR. BILL SIMPSON, JR.

 Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today to honor the memory of 
Mr. Bill Simpson. The following speeches, ``The Celebration of the Life 
and Times of Bill Simpson'' and ``Bill's Table,'' were originally 
delivered after the occasion of Bill Simpson's burial at Arlington 
National Cemetery by Mr. Bill Simpson III and David Lambert, 
respectively. I ask consent the speeches be printed in the Record.
  The material follows:

         The Celebration of the Life and Times of Bill Simpson

        Thank you for being here today. Our family takes great 
     comfort in your support and kindness through these trying 
     times. We are eternally grateful.
        Today, I would like to acknowledge the Veteran's Medical 
     Center in Washington, DC. The staff in this great hospice and 
     nursing home provided excellent care to my father, while 
     preserving his dignity in the last days of his life. The 
     patient care staff are angels on earth. They are truly 
     engaged in a labor of love, and that means so much to 
     families who have loved ones under their care.
        I must also acknowledge the most supportive, faithful and 
     loyal person in our father's life. Our mother, Evelyn, never 
     wavered, not even for a single day.
        In honor of my father, the Simpson family has established 
     ``The William Simpson Veteran's Assistance Account'' to 
     provide some needed purchases to enhance the lives of those 
     old warriors in their last days on this earth. Donations are 
     appreciated, not only by my family, but also by the veterans 
     and their families.
        We have also begun to compile some of my father's favorite 
     stories. We have catalogued hundreds of his speeches that 
     were written while serving with the late former Governor Paul 
     B. Johnson of Mississippi, the late Senator James Eastland, 
     former President Jimmy Carter and others when he returned to 
     the private sector. My father loved the power and influence 
     of language and words and it is reflected in his writings and 
     stories.
        If you have a story from my father's life that you would 
     like to share--or one that we haven't heard--and there are 
     millions, please send them to us. We want to share these 
     stories with his friends and family.
        This event is being held here at the ``116 Club,'' which 
     is appropriate for many reasons. A celebration of the life 
     and times of William Simpson would be incomplete without the 
     116 Club. This place was his home away from home. It was 
     where he was comfortable. Here he was surrounded by people he 
     truly loved. The people in this room carried him throughout 
     his life. He loved this place. Here were people he truly 
     admired--always sharing good stories and, of course, good 
     food! Once again, we are grateful for your presence here 
     today. It is such a moving testament to my father and we 
     thank you.
        My father was my closest and most faithful friend. My 
     sister Ellen and I were extremely fortunate, in these times 
     when people thirst for a hero and role model, we didn't have 
     to look very far. We just looked to my father. He was a great 
     father, not only to my sister and me, but as a leader and 
     mentor for so many people--many who are here today.
        My father was one of the most genuinely modest people that 
     I have ever known. He never stood above people. He never 
     forgot where he came from, and he never forgot or lost sight 
     of his mission to serve--to serve others unselfishly. From 
     his early days in the family seafood factory in Gulfport, 
     Mississippi, he rose to work for the President of the United 
     States, but he never lost his touch with his common roots.
        My father was a faithful and loyal husband for over 56 
     years to our mother, Evelyn. Faithful and loyal are words 
     used most to describe him. It is fitting that he was laid to 
     rest in the hallowed ground at Arlington National Cemetery, 
     surrounded by veterans who have faithfully served this 
     country. Our father took the oath of service to the United 
     States of America to heart--it set the course for the rest of 
     his life. Being ``faithful and loyal'' were not mere 
     commodities to be used when it was popular, and then to be 
     cast aside or compromised when it became a burden. These 
     ideals were at the core of the fabric that represented the 
     character of our father. He was ``faithful and loyal'' all 
     his life--when he wore his uniform, when he served Governor 
     Johnson, Senator Eastland, President Carter and his beloved 
     home state of Mississippi and most importantly his family and 
     friends.
       He would tell me a story many times over in my life and he 
     would say, ``Bill, some of our friends die, and I wish we 
     could do something about it, but we can't, that's life, but 
     what we can control in this life is how you treat your 
     friends. You never quit your friends, even if they lose an 
     election, or are in trouble, or are in need. That's when you 
     need to be there.''
       For many of us here, he was our Atticus Finch, our 
     backstop, always there with support and counsel, never having 
     to look over your shoulder, because you knew he was there. My 
     father was a man of character and courage. A great author 
     once said ``courage is grace under pressure.'' If that is the 
     case, this man was filed with grace.
       In the tough times in Mississippi during the Civil Rights 
     Era, my father provided sound, courageous leadership. I know 
     that he prevented bloodshed across the state. He was color-
     blind when it wasn't popular to be so. I attribute this to 
     his strong faith and love for humanity.
       Money, fame and power meant nothing to him. He understood 
     the proper use of power to help people, not for self-
     interest, but as a tool for service; especially for the 
     under-represented. He would captivate crowds with his words 
     and passion. He was gracious, kind, and gentle. He always 
     kept a low profile, while maintaining unshakeable integrity. 
     He was in every sense an American treasure.
       As Senator Kennedy stated last week on the floor of the 
     Senate, ``Seeing him so often reminded me of those happy 
     times when the Senate was full of friendships and goodwill in 
     spite of huge disagreements on the issues. I know the 
     beautiful memories of his long and productive life will last 
     forever.''

[[Page 317]]

       We also received a note form Hiram Eastland who told his 
     story better than I can--``What a wonderful life and wealth 
     of friends he had. He deeply touched and brought joy and 
     inspiration to the lives of many people . . . a legendary 
     bedrock character with spirit and good humor . . . keen on 
     Mississippi and Washington insight and stories that will live 
     on in our memories. No man ever loved his family or his state 
     or country more, and no man ever understood, enjoyed, or knew 
     better how to engage and practice the art of politics for the 
     public good than Bill Simpson''.
       As we say goodbye to this fine and decent man, let us take 
     comfort in his accomplishments and most importantly remember 
     the impact he had on our lives.
       In closing, I would like to use one of my father's favorite 
     quotes that I think really defined his character--

     The thoughts of others were light and fleeting.
     Of lover's meeting or luck or fame.
     Mine were of trouble and mine were steady.
     So I was ready when trouble came.

      My Father was ready.
     Thank you.

     Bill Simpson, III, January 12, 2004.
                                  ____


                              Bill's Table

       When we gathered at Bill's table we knew from that twinkle 
     and grin that we were wrapped warm in his welcome. We knew 
     that friendship mattered most, and that our politics could be 
     checked at the door. We knew our day was about to get better 
     because we were going to spend an hour with someone very 
     special. We all knew we were about to be enriched--kindred 
     spirits listening and laughing and learning with Bill.
       Yes, we listened, we laughed, and we learned. He told us of 
     Governors and sheriffs, of gamblers and rebels, of saints and 
     scoundrels, of Committee Chairmen and of Chairman's 
     Representatives. We heard about politics and politicians and 
     public servants. We learned about Bay of St. Louis and 
     Gulfport and Pass Christian, and, oh, yes, about the wrath of 
     the terrible Camille; he talked of the Mighty River--its 
     mischief and its majesty. Bill shared stories of his Pacific 
     comrades--heroes who saved the world in an Ocean half a world 
     away; of the Chepachet and her amphibious campaigns; of 
     battles and of brave men.
       He spoke with quiet admiration of those who defined who he 
     was--his family most of all, but also of a Governor named 
     Johnson, of a Senator named Eastland, and of a President 
     named Carter. We heard about the Old South and the New 
     South--this Son of Mississippi had a big hand in both. He 
     talked of striving to build bridges, of civil rights; of 
     justice and of the Department of Justice; of compassion and 
     of reconciliation; of understanding and of progress.
       But those were all words, and the essence of Bill was not 
     what he said, but who he was. Much more important than his 
     words were what we learned from Bill--and in the spirit of 
     his own lively metaphors the images of his life lessons for 
     us will keep coming back.
       We learned from Bill that character could be as strong and 
     deep-rooted as his State's live oaks, and that friendships 
     should be as durable and as sweet as an aged bourbon. We 
     learned that trust should be as strong as the Great River 
     levees his generation helped build, and that the embrace of a 
     friend could be as warm as a Delta summer.
       We learned that loyalty could be as fierce as a Gulf storm, 
     and personal presence as gentle as a family prayer. My own 
     prayer now is that my sons will always have a Bill Simpson in 
     their lives.
       We thought Bill always would be at his table. Well, take 
     heart. He is still there, and he will be, next month--and 
     next year. There will be no new stories--only those we know 
     by heart--at least 116 of them. And in time they will become 
     richer--as will we--because we had a place at Bill's table.

     David Lambert, January 12, 2004

                          ____________________