[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11529]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, a year ago yesterday marked the 
occasion of the loss of our good friend and colleague, Craig Thomas, 
who was the senior Senator from Wyoming at the time. He lost his battle 
with leukemia at the age of 74.
  Born and raised in Cody, WY, a town named after Buffalo Bill, Craig 
was brought up on a ranch. He brought those values of America's western 
small towns to our Nation's Capital.
  So the Senator from America's smallest State by population, home to a 
rugged and independent-minded people, was one of the Senate's leading 
advocates for a smaller, more efficient, and more responsive 
government.
  Other Senators who got to know Craig found him to be always polite 
and courteous. Yet that did not make him a pushover. A Marine captain, 
who rose to that rank from the rank of private, Craig was a man of 
discipline and a man of principle. He was a perfect fit for the people 
and the values of his great State.
  As accomplished as he was, Senator Thomas was also not afraid to poke 
a little fun at himself as well. I know he once displayed a series of 
pictures in his Senate office of himself trying his hand at roping a 
horse. The pictures depict, one by one, his less than successful 
attempts, and then his unceremonious fall off his steed and onto the 
dirt.
  Many of my colleagues will remember his subtle sense of humor, his 
skill at working with others to advance legislation, and his passion 
for promoting the best interests of Wyoming.
  I know my colleagues continue to hold his dear wife Susan, a great 
friend of all of us, and their four children, Peter, Patrick, Greg, and 
Lexie, in our thoughts. We still consider them members of our Senate 
family.
  I also know how much Craig would be pleased that Senators Mike Enzi 
and John Barrasso are holding to the high standards he set and making 
Wyoming proud.
  A man of grit and courage, Craig never backed down from a challenge, 
not even his final struggle with leukemia. Through the end of his life, 
he represented Wyoming with honor and dignity. Admired by all who knew 
him, he leaves behind a legacy of legislative accomplishment, as well 
as a Chamber full of very dear friends in the Senate. We still miss him 
a lot.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The assistant majority leader is 
recognized.

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