[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6692-6693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING SENATE RETIREES

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in the history of the United States of 
America, we estimate some 500 million people have lived in this great 
Nation--60 percent of them as of today. But in the history of America, 
with 500 million people, only 1,950 men and women have been given the 
opportunity to serve in the Senate, including the Presiding Officer, 
our newest Senator, from the State of Montana. So 1,950 men and women 
who have occupied this Chamber in the previous Senate, becoming part of 
the history of this Nation and contributing to this great institution. 
I have been fortunate enough to have served with some of the greatest, 
and I have noted their presence, their impact, and I have noticed their 
absence too.
  When we take stock of the Senate and what it has done for America, 
what it means to America, it goes way beyond the men and women who 
occupy these desks. It includes a lot of people who make a contribution 
to this institution who may never be recognized for it, but, 
nevertheless, make this the great institution it is, serving this great 
Nation. Today we honor two of those people.


                       Tribute To Daryl Chappelle

  First I wish to join in honoring Daryl Chappelle. Daryl, thank you so 
much for 41 years of service in the Senate. His legendary smile has 
warmed my spirits on days when I was really down in the dumps. He 
always had that happy smile, wishing me well. He was always making a 
person's day a little bit better. Daryl, I want to thank you. Time and 
time again, I am sure even on days when you weren't so up, you made a 
point of adding to a positive feeling for everyone--not just Senators 
and staff but visitors as well. You have been a great part of our 
Senate family. I wish you the very best in your retirement. We are 
going to miss you on that rickety old train that runs back and forth 
between the Russell Building and the Capitol. I wish you the very best.


                        Tribute To Terry Gainer

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I also come to the floor to give special 
tribute to our Sergeant at Arms, Terry Gainer, who is retiring. If one 
is not from Chicago and one doesn't know the scene very well, one may 
not understand what I am about to say. Let me make it clear. When one 
asks where Terry Gainer is from and someone says Chicago, one would 
then say: And?
  He would add: The South Side.
  And?
  Beverly.
  And?
  Saint Barnabas.
  When a person reports their parish in that section of Chicago, they 
have really identified themselves as being part of that great city and 
part of a great American Catholic tradition--Irish Catholic tradition 
in many respects--that Terry Gainer represents.
  I think about him today and what his life has meant, but first I 
think of his family name. There aren't many names like the Gainer 
family name that carry with it so much respect in the city of Chicago. 
I think of his relatives I have worked with, the families who are 
related to him that I know, neighbors to staffers--the list goes on and 
on of the Gainers who have made an impact on the city of Chicago and 
the State of Illinois. Few can make the claim Terry can make in terms 
of what he has given to the city, the State of Illinois, and to our 
Nation.
  Terry Gainer, of course, is the Sergeant at Arms today and has 
announced his retirement soon, after 7\1/2\ years serving in that 
capacity, or at least serving in the Senate with the Capitol Police and 
with the Sergeant at Arms office. He has served longer than any 
Sergeant at Arms since World War II. Terry served as Sergeant at Arms 
and Doorkeeper since January of 2007. His accomplishments are so many.
  Do not underestimate the responsibility that has been given to him 
and the men and women who work with him. This building is a target for 
people who would bring destruction to this building and death to those 
who visit. Sadly, we have seen graphic examples of that in recent years 
past. It has been Terry's job, both with the Capitol Police and now 
with the Sergeant at Arms office, to keep us safe and to keep the 
business of the Senate working every single day.
  Terry had the background to achieve it. He volunteered to serve our 
Nation in Vietnam. After his service, he retired as a captain in the 
Naval Reserves in the year 2000. He earned his bachelor's degree from 
St. Benedict's College. He continued his family's proud tradition of 
law enforcement by serving in the Chicago Police Department for nearly 
two decades. As Senator McConnell mentioned earlier, over a century of 
service by the Gainer family to the Chicago Police Department was 
carried on by Terry. He obtained a master's of science degree and his 
law degree from DePaul University. He was appointed superintendent of 
the Illinois State Police by Governor Jim Edgar and held that position 
for 7 years. He was then called to Washington, DC, to serve as second 
in command at the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department.
  In 2002, Terry became chief of the United States Capitol Police and 
was instrumental in facilitating the substantial growth of that force 
in the challenging days following 9/11/2001.
  After a brief stint in the private sector, Terry returned to public 
service when he was appointed by Majority Leader Harry Reid to serve as 
Sergeant at Arms. Harry Reid, himself a former Capitol Hill policeman, 
understood the responsibility and understood Terry was the right person 
for the job.
  As I noted earlier, during his tenure as the Sergeant at Arms, Terry 
has done an exemplary job of balancing security and public access to 
the Capitol

[[Page 6693]]

and to the Senate. His steady management hand, his quick smile, his 
constant presence in the halls of the Capitol and Senate office 
buildings are going to be greatly missed.
  I wish to thank Terry Gainer personally for his friendship, support, 
the little favors he has done for me and for every Member of the Senate 
to make our lives and the lives of our family better. You have truly 
added to this great institution, as much as any person who served 
because you have made your mark and you have kept us safe and you have 
kept the millions of visitors during your tenure safe as well.
  That is quite an accomplishment, Terry.
  Congratulations to you and especially to Irene, who has been patient 
throughout it all, with her own career and her own effort, raising the 
family and making her mark professionally. The two of you are quite an 
example to all of us of public service at its best.
  Thanks, Terry, for your service.
  And now comes the tough responsibility of following in the steps of 
Terry Gainer.
  Majority Leader Reid has announced that Drew Willison, who is in the 
Chamber here today, will be replacing Terry as the next Sergeant at 
Arms and Doorkeeper--officially on Monday.
  Drew has spent more than 5 years in two stints as the Deputy Sergeant 
at Arms, and he has learned from the best--Terry Gainer.
  Prior to his work in the Sergeant at Arms office, Drew was a senior 
member of the Senate Appropriations Committee staff, where we worked 
together. He had roles in the Energy and Water Subcommittee effort, as 
well as the Legislative Branch Appropriations. His experience and 
knowledge of the legislative branch will serve him well in his new 
capacity.
  I congratulate Drew and wish him the very best of luck. Terry's 
service as Sergeant at Arms has set the bar very high, but I know, 
Drew, you are up to the challenge.
  Mr. President, let me end by thanking again Terry, Irene Gainer, the 
Gainer family, and all who support them for unselfishly giving to this 
Senate such an extraordinary contribution--for sharing their husband, 
father, and grandfather with our home State of Illinois and with this 
great Nation for so many years.
  Terry and Irene have more than earned the right to move to the next 
chapter in their lives and to celebrate that time with their 6 children 
and 14 grandchildren.
  I congratulate Terry on his distinguished public service career, for 
his accomplishments as a law enforcement officer, a decorated veteran, 
and the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper. Most importantly, I 
thank Terry for his friendship.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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