[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ROBERT L. HENDRICKSON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate a 
distinguished Kentuckian and a friend. Robert L. Hendrickson has been 
the Publisher of the Ledger Independent in Maysville, KY, since 1993. 
When Bob announced that he would retire at the end of last year, I knew 
that the paper was not only losing a great journalist, but it also was 
losing a great man.
  Bob graduated from the University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of 
Journalism. Afterward, he moved back to Kentucky to work on his dad's 
dairy farm. However, a pair of harsh winters in 1977 and 1978 convinced 
him, in his own words, ``to put my journalism degree to work.'' He got 
hired by the Ledger Independent and has served his community ever 
since.
  The Ledger Independent newspaper serves seven counties in northern 
Kentucky and southern Ohio. Through a series of owners and publishers, 
the paper continues a 150-year tradition of a local, independent, daily 
newspaper in Maysville.
  Bob became editor of the paper in 1985, calling it ``the best job in 
the world.'' In 1993, he was promoted to publisher. He oversaw the 
entire operation and guided the paper into the internet age with the 
unveiling of Maysville Online. While working full time at the paper, 
Bob also did postgraduate work at Northwestern University.
  Bob and Missy Mann have never stopped working for their neighbors. 
Bob further dedicates himself to his community, both through his 
service on the board of directors of the Maysville Chamber of Commerce, 
and as the moderator of several important political debates in his 
area.
  Bob is a great man and a pillar of his community, and I am honored to 
call him a friend. I wish him and Missy well in retirement, and I join 
with countless Kentuckians on thanking him for his service to 
Maysville.

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