[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8287-8288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING DR. JAMES CRASE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to a 
distinguished Kentuckian and talented physician who has sadly passed 
away. Dr. James Crase, a good friend of mine who was a veteran and a 
former State senator, departed this life on May 28. He was 78 years 
old.
  Dr. Crase, born in Letcher County, KY, practiced medicine for over 53 
years, 40 of those years in his beloved hometown of Somerset, KY. He 
served as chief of staff at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.
  As a Somerset doctor, he provided care to over 10,000 patient 
families and was named ``Citizen Physician of the Year'' by the 
Kentucky Academy of Family Practice. He previously practiced medicine 
in Berea, KY, McKee, KY, and in Norfolk, VA with the U.S. Navy.
  Dr. Crase was elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1994 and became well 
known for his dedication to constituent service. After retiring from 
his medical practice, he helped create ClubMD, a healthcare clinic that 
focused on improving the patient experience.
  Dr. Crase was deeply involved with the community and committed to 
volunteer service with many organizations, including the Lake 
Cumberland Lincoln Club, the Lake Cumberland Performing Arts, the 
Kentucky Medical Association, the Berea College Board of Trustees, the 
Somerset Community College Athletic Directorship, the First 
Presbyterian Church of Somerset, the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital, 
the Pulaski Civil War Round Table, and the United Way.
  Elaine and I wish to send our deepest condolences to Dr. Crase's 
family and many beloved friends during their time of grief. Dr. Crase 
was a friend, a caring and empathetic physician, and a devoted public 
servant. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is poorer for his loss.
  An area publication, the Lexington Herald-Leader, published an 
article detailing the life and career of Dr. James Crase. I ask 
unanimous consent that said article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                   [From the Lexington Herald-Leader,
                             June 1, 2016]

           Longtime Somerset Physician James Crase Dies at 78

                            (By Bill Estep)

       James D. Crase, a longtime Somerset physician who served a 
     partial term in the state Senate, died May 28. The Letcher 
     County native was 78.
       Crase was a U.S. Navy veteran who worked as a physician for 
     53 years, including more than 40 years in Somerset, where he 
     served as chief of staff of the Lake Cumberland Regional 
     Hospital and an elder at First Presbyterian Church.
       Crase's obituary said he was proud to have provided care to 
     more than 10,000 families during his time in Somerset. The 
     Kentucky Academy of Family Practice named Crase its Citizen 
     Physician of the Year, the obituary said.
       Crase, a small-government Republican, was elected to the 
     state Senate in December 1994 to finish the term of a 
     lawmaker who had been convicted in a corruption case.
       Republicans control the Kentucky Senate now, but were in 
     the minority then. In a newspaper commentary, Crase expressed 
     some frustration about the relative lack of power of the 
     minority, and with the legislative process.
       ``First, one must convince his or her own party to support 
     the measure. Then comes the dubious chore of convincing the 
     opposing party of its merits, thus the trades--you vote for 
     mine, I'll smile upon yours,'' Crase wrote.
       He did not seek election to a full term in 1996.
       U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a 
     statement Wednesday said Crase will be missed.

[[Page 8288]]

       ``As a veteran and former state senator, Dr. Crase was 
     well-respected in the community and worked tirelessly to 
     improve the lives of his constituents,'' McConnell said.
       Crase is survived by three children.

  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

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