[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11848]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO LOUIS EDWARD ``SPANKY'' FISTER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Louis 
Edward Fister, a Kentuckian who was committed not only to his family 
and friends, but to his country and his religion as well. Known to many 
simply as ``Spanky,'' Mr. Fister was a permanent deacon in the Roman 
Catholic Church, a calling he served for 20 years. He was also an 
influential realtor and sales representative in the Lexington area. Mr. 
Fister passed away April 30, 2005, at the age of 66.
  Spanky got his nickname as a child because he reminded people of 
Spanky from ``The Little Rascals.'' Perhaps the name stuck because 
Spanky made it his goal to create ``gangs of people,'' especially 
during his ministerial work. One of Spanky's greatest joys was serving 
as a chaplain for Eastern State Hospital where he ministered to the 
patients and offered prayer services. He also witnessed marriage vows, 
baptisms, and assisted with funerals in Lexington and the surrounding 
area as a deacon at St. Paul Catholic Church in Lexington.
  Born in Jackson, TN, on January 3, 1939, Mr. Fister moved to Kentucky 
when he was about 4 years old and lived the rest of his life in the 
Commonwealth. He graduated from Lexington Catholic High School in 1956. 
Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served until 1958. He 
then studied business at the University of Kentucky and later attended 
Thomas More College in preparation for the diaconate. He earned a BA 
degree in organizational management from Midway College, graduating 
with Summa Cum Laude honors in 1998.
  Mr. Fister was a member of the Lexington Board of Realtors and worked 
for Smith Realty Group before his passing. He was also an independent 
sales representative for Unishippers. A civic-oriented individual, Mr. 
Fister was president of the Jaycees and had been active in the Knights 
of Columbus.
  Mr. Fister is survived by his wife of 45 years, Nancy Jo Hostetter, 
and his five children, all of Lexington; his four siblings; eight 
grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law.
  Today I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our sympathy to 
the family and friends of the late Louis Edward ``Spanky'' Fister. He 
will be missed.

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