[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF KEITH BLACKLEDGE

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                           HON. ADRIAN SMITH

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
respected Nebraska journalist, Keith Blackledge, who recently passed 
away at the age of 82.
  Keith was a reporter at the North Platte Telegraph from 1952 to 1959. 
After a series of other assignments, he returned to North Platte in 
1967 when he was named the executive editor of the Telegraph, and later 
named vice-president and director of public affairs for the paper. 
Keith was named to the Nebraska Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2005.
  He retired from the paper in 1992 but, never one to let the grass 
grow under his feet, Keith continued to write a weekly column for the 
paper until his death.
  During his time in North Platte, Keith authored four books--A Short 
History of North Platte, The Election of 1951, Letter to Home, and This 
Town Fights About Everything.
  As president of the North Platte Chamber of Commerce during the late 
1970s, Keith initiated the creation of the Mid-Nebraska Community 
Foundation and the Clean City Committee, which later became Keep North 
Platte Beautiful.
  He also played a major role in the successful campaign to consolidate 
two small hospitals and establish the Great Plains Regional Medical 
Center in the early 1970s. He initiated the Habitat for Humanity 
affiliate in North Platte in 1998 and served as its first president.
  Just two months ago, Lincoln County Commissioners proclaimed May 10th 
of this year Keith Blackledge Day.
  Keith dedicated his life to improving North Platte and surrounding 
communities while always remaining a dedicated journalist.

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