[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11509]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING THOMAS ``BROWN'' BADGETT, SR.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to note for my colleagues 
the passing of a distinguished Kentuckian and my friend, Mr. Thomas 
``Brown'' Badgett, Sr., who passed away this June 30 at the age of 88. 
A leading citizen of Madisonville, KY, Brown was a philanthropist who 
will be remembered for his many gifts to his community.
  From the Brown Badgett Sr. Energy and Advanced Technology Center on 
the Madisonville Community College campus to the Brown Badgett Loop 
roadway and Badgett Athletic Complex there that also bear his name, he 
will have an enduring legacy.
  Brown was able to make this mark not only because he was so highly 
successful in his chosen fields of coal, real estate and highway 
construction, but also because he was successful at reaching out to 
other people and sharing his success and his zeal for life. I extend my 
deepest condolences to his many beloved family members and friends for 
their loss. He will be missed by many.
  The Louisville Courier-Journal recently published an obituary for Mr. 
Thomas ``Brown'' Badgett, Sr., and I ask unanimous consent that said 
article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record as follows:

          [From the Louisville Courier-Journal, July 1, 2011]

                        Thomas Brown Badgett Sr.

       Madisonville.--Badgett, Thomas Brown Sr., 88, died 
     Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 8:10 a.m. at his residence.
       He was born January 17, 1923, in Bellefonte, Ark., to the 
     late Russell and Rheaetta Badgett. In addition to his 
     parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen 
     ``Heidi'' Badgett; a daughter, Deidre Badgett Griffin; one 
     son, Owen Kinsley Badgett; one brother, J. Rogers Badgett; 
     and one sister, Julia Badgett Badger.
       Mr. Badgett loved his community, and he served all walks of 
     life such as the coal business, highway construction, and 
     real estate. He received his Eagle Scout in 1991. Mr. Badgett 
     was a philanthropist who supported education with donations 
     to college and high schools. His favorite saying was, ``The 
     youth of today are going to be running this country in the 
     next 20 to 30 years, and they need to be educated.'' Mr. 
     Badgett is survived by a daughter, Heidi K. Honchariw, of 
     Asheville, N.C.; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas Brown and 
     Sue Badgett, Jr., of Madisonville; two grandchildren, Corbett 
     G. and Casey McCormick, of Naperville, Ill., and Kyle Owen 
     Yates, of Madisonville; and five great-grandchildren, Lily 
     McCormick, Gavin McCormick and Ryder McCormick of Naperville, 
     Brice Yates of Madisonville and Kyle Owen Yates II, of 
     Central City, Ky.
       Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Barnett-Strother 
     Funeral Home with Russell Badgett III officiating and Dr. 
     William Klompus and Terry McBrayer to speak. Burial will 
     follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. 
     Saturday and after noon Sunday at the funeral home. 
     Pallbearers will be Calvin Griffith, Bennie Mouser, Oda 
     Inglis, Jr., John Davis, Don Gish, Bentley Badgett, II and 
     Russell Badgett, III. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank 
     Ramsey, Jr., Coach Joe B. Hall, Terry McBrayer, O.T. Rudd, 
     C.M. Newton and Dr. William Klompus.
       Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts of America Shawnee 
     Trails Council, P.O. Box 487, Owensboro, KY 42302, or Green 
     River Hospice, 418 N. Scott St., Madisonville, KY 42431.

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