[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9292]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN MEMORY OF GRAHAM B. PURCELL, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Thornberry) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House that 
one of our former colleagues, the Honorable Graham P. Purcell, Jr., has 
passed away at the age of 92.
  Graham Purcell was a larger-than-life figure who led a remarkable 
life of service. Whether it was as a soldier in World War II, a State 
judge, or a U.S. Congressman, he served with a strength of character 
and with a love of country that has provided an example and an 
inspiration for many people, including me. A man of deep faith, Graham 
possessed a generosity of spirit that extended to all aspects of his 
life. He was a member of the Greatest Generation that saved the world 
from totalitarianism and then came home to build the most prosperous 
nation the world has ever known. But Graham Purcell was also an 
individual who would stand out in any generation, rising from humble 
roots to help make history.
  He was born in Archer County, Texas, on May 5, 1919. After high 
school, he enrolled in Texas A&M, but the war came, and shortly after 
Pearl Harbor he entered the Army, serving in Tunisia and in Italy, and 
earning, among other awards, the Silver Star. Even after he was 
discharged, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves for a number of 
years. When he returned from the war, he finished his degree at Texas 
A&M and then Baylor Law School. After practicing law for a few years, 
he was appointed judge for the 89th district court in Texas, and served 
from 1955 until 1962, when he resigned in order to run for Congress in 
a special election.
  Serving in the House from January 1962 until January 1973, 
Congressman Purcell focused primarily on his work on the Agriculture 
Committee, serving as chairman of the Livestock Subcommittee. He also 
played a key role in the Congressional Prayer Breakfast, and served the 
people of North Texas with integrity and distinction for 11 years. 
After Congress, Graham practiced law and helped found a large law firm 
and then served as a visiting district judge in Texas. But in whatever 
capacity--soldier, judge, Congressman, citizen--Graham was committed to 
serving others. He and his wife, Nancy, just recently received an award 
for helping children in crisis in the Wichita Falls community.
  Graham Purcell led a rich, full, remarkable life. How many others can 
say that they shook hands with Winston Churchill while serving as a 
soldier in Italy; had Vice President Johnson come pick him and his 
family up at the airport just after he was elected in a special 
election to take them to the Johnson home so they could stay for a 
while until they had a chance to find a place of their own; or, on the 
last night of President Kennedy's life spent more than an hour with him 
on the plane from Houston to Forth Worth, swapping stories back and 
forth, and then was in the motorcade the next day when President 
Kennedy was assassinated; or, made numerous trips back and forth to 
Vietnam to thank our soldiers for what they were doing there, always 
stopping at a burn unit along the way to make sure that those severely 
wounded would know that their country appreciated what they were doing; 
or, at age 92, just a few weeks ago, offer important guidance and 
advice to one of his successors about the importance of putting the 
country first ahead of party, ahead of personal considerations.
  Although Graham loved history--and he certainly loved to regale 
family and friends with some of his amazing stories--he was also a 
person who was always looking forward. He was consumed by what kind of 
country would be left to his children and his grandchildren. And it was 
this focus on the common good that dominated his life story and really 
defined him as a man and as a public servant. He and his wife, Nancy, 
have 8 surviving children as well as 25 grandchildren and 5 great 
grandchildren, all of whom benefited from his loving care and will miss 
him greatly.
  Although Graham had many titles and roles in his life, he knew that 
first and foremost he was a child of God. It was from this perspective 
that he lived--and it is in this assurance that he now rests.

                          ____________________