[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16205]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING COUNCILMAN KEVIN KINGSTON

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge Councilman 
Kevin Kingston, Sr. of Slidell for his dedicated service to the State 
of Louisiana. I would like to take a few moments to remark on his 
accomplishments.
  Mr. Kingston was born in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, but resided in 
Slidell since 1979. His nickname was ``Kingfish,'' and he was truly a 
man of the people. He owned Kingfish Seafood Market on Pontchartrain 
Drive and also ran Lil' Ray's Seafood Restaurant for 18 years until the 
1990s. Mr. Kingston had gusto for life and food; however, it was his 
service on the City Council that gave him his greatest pleasure. He was 
elected in 1998 in District D representing west-northwest Slidell and 
in 2006 was elected to serve as Councilman-at-Large representing the 
entire city. In the past year, he took a special interest in helping a 
handful of residents replace their storm-damaged mobile homes. His 
measure, which passed on the council's third try in almost 2 years, 
amended a section in the city's zoning code that prohibited people from 
placing new trailers in the city even if the old ones were destroyed by 
an act of God. A popular public servant and caregiver, he would often 
pay people's water and light bills, gestures that displayed his big 
heart and kind spirit.
  Kevin Kingston passed away Thursday, July 3, after a long battle with 
liver disease that included a liver transplant in 2003. He is survived 
by not only family members but also the grateful city of Slidell and 
council who have lost a great man and great leader. Mr. Kingston opened 
his heart to everyone he came in contact with and his generosity and 
friendship will be deeply missed.
  Thus, today, I honor a fellow Louisianan, Kevin Kingston, Sr., and 
thank him and his family for his dedicated service to our State and 
Nation.

                          ____________________