[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16520-16521]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  A MOMENT OF TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF THE HONORABLE ISAAC 
                                SKELTON

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, we have just observed a moment of silence for 
Isaac Skelton. My good friend, Emanuel Cleaver, Ike's good friend, 
Senator McCaskill, Lacy Clay, and others who are here from the Missouri 
delegation, I want to rise with them, not in a moment of silence, but 
in a moment of tribute. We will perhaps have an opportunity to speak a 
longer time.
  Yesterday, many of us had the opportunity to participate in a 
memorial service for Tom Foley. Tom Foley was the Speaker of this 
House.
  A gentleman spoke who is, I think, one of the most revered members 
that has served in this body, Robert Michel. Bob Michel was Tom Foley's 
friend. Bob Michel was the leader of the Republican side of the aisle. 
They were friends, colleagues, and cooperated with one another to the 
benefit of this institution and its Members, and the Dean of the House 
adds, correctly, to the benefit of our country and all its citizens.
  Bob Michel observed the civility that each one of them displayed and 
the willingness to reach out across the aisle and to make things happen 
positively for our country and for our citizens.
  We lost another individual within the last weeks, Bill Young, who was 
a similar personality, and added luster to this Congress by his service 
and his civility.
  Major Owens was another whom we lost. Four people who made this 
institution a better place.

[[Page 16521]]

  Ike Skelton was my brother. He and I were Sigma Chi's. His son was a 
Sigma Chi. His father was a Sigma Chi. So we had a very special bond to 
start out with.
  In addition, his first wife, Susan, who died too early, as mine did, 
came out and knocked on doors for me, Mr. Speaker, in Bowie, Maryland, 
just down the road here a piece. So I had a special bond with Ike, but 
also an extraordinary great respect for the way he conducted himself as 
a representative of the people of his district in Missouri, and the 
respect that he gave to each of us and the respect that he received in 
return.
  How sad it is that these giants, Tom Foley, Bill Young, Ike Skelton, 
and, yes, Major Owens, passed from this body, passed from this life, 
but how joyful it is the extraordinary contributions each of them made 
to this House, which we should revere and love, the people's House.
  Ike Skelton was of the people, for the people, and certainly by the 
people.
  Mr. WOLF. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HOYER. I would be glad to yield to my friend.
  Mr. WOLF. I want to just thank the gentleman for speaking. Ike lived 
in northern Virginia when he was here, and I would see him many times 
on the weekend. The second when it crossed the screen that he had died, 
I felt very, very badly.
  To second what the gentleman said, many nights as I was driving home, 
I would see a car, Ike Skelton and Bill Emerson. They carpooled 
together. Bill Emerson, a Republican Member from our side, Ike from 
your side. They carpooled together. They were the best of friends. Ike 
was one of the finest people that I have served with since I have been 
in this House.
  I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for his comments.

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