[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16675]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO PAT GODFREY

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President. I appreciate this opportunity to pay 
tribute today to a wonderful staff member who is a true example of a 
dedicated public servant. Pat recently retired after 27 years of 
wonderful service to my office and the people of Utah.
  Pat was the public face and voice of my office. She managed the front 
office and phones with kindness as she greeted literally thousands of 
people each year. No matter the issue or the anger, Pat would answer 
each constituent with grace and compassion.
  She loved people, and it showed in her every day interactions. She 
always made the time to listen to visitors to our office, and she truly 
cared about the problems they were facing. She became the first-line 
advocate for many, many Utahns who were having problems with the 
Federal Government, and she would make sure that their calls were 
returned and their issues addressed.
  At times the front desk phones would get extremely busy and many of 
the calls were from angry constituents. Yet you could always find Pat 
with a smile on her face and a calm demeanor. She was a strong advocate 
for the policies and issues I was fighting for on behalf of Utah in our 
Nation's Capital and always conveyed this in a down-to-earth manner. No 
matter the disagreement, most callers left a conversation with Pat 
feeling better about why they called.
  Pat made friends with everyone and was well known throughout the 
Federal Building. Many employees from various agencies would look out 
for Pat and always inquired about her well-being. She had the building 
management staff and security guards on speed dial and was always able 
to get the needs of the office addressed in a timely, efficient manner.
  Pat's talents were in evident display at the office, but perhaps her 
great achievements came as a loving mother and grandmother. She dearly 
loves her family and expresses it often. Her pride and care for her 
children and grandchildren is evident and central to her life. I want 
to commend her children, and most especially Deanna, who are lovingly 
caring for their mother now in her time of need.
  Pat has a strong belief in our Heavenly Father and his son our Savior 
Jesus Christ. She has made her testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints an important component of her life and has spent 
countless hours serving others in various capacities.
  Mr. President. I am truly grateful for the tremendous service Pat 
Godfrey rendered to me, to our community, and to the thousands of 
constituents whose lives she touched with her kindness and compassion. 
I want to wish Pat the very best in retirement and know that she will 
make many more wonderful memories in the loving strength of her family. 
May our Heavenly Father bless Pat for the person she is and the service 
she has rendered to so many.

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