Remembering Senator Craig Thomas

Floor Speech

REMEMBERING SENATOR CRAIG THOMAS -- (Senate - June 06, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, when Craig Thomas passed away on Monday evening, the U.S. Senate lost more than a Member; our institution has lost a good man and I a good friend--someone who was proud to be called an American cowboy. Sharon and I extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Susan, his family, his friends, his staff, and the people of Wyoming whom he served with such complete dedication.

Over the last few years, I worked closely with Senator Thomas. I came to know him well and came to respect him enormously. We both represented small, rural States with critical constituencies--his most emblematic being the farmer, mine the miner. We both maintained a deep commitment to our home States. Perhaps most importantly, we both had a history of public service.

Throughout our careers, I would say that we had a very good partnership. We served together on the Senate Finance Committee and fought to make this country more independent of foreign energy, to promote the development of clean coal technologies, and to preserve the rural American lifestyle.

Through it all, I greatly liked and admired Senator Thomas and appreciated him for the fine human being he was. He was a man of strong principle, one who knew the bottom line and didn't hesitate to consult his colleagues on the other side of the aisle. What I will remember most about him, however, wasn't his ability to work with his so-called foes or our tough fights in the Senate, but for his deep affinity for the beauty of this country.

In fact, over the years, when I have traveled to Wyoming and looked up at that towering, earthly skyline of the Grand Tetons, I have often thought of Craig.

Craig, after all, was perhaps one of the people who shared my deep love of the Grand Tetons. It was in those mountains and the Gros Ventre that we found a common bond. Together, we exchanged our marvels about the alpine lakes, the cutting glaciers, wind-swept glaciers and sparkling rivers.

I will never forget his advice on enjoying the beauty of Jackson Hole or his stories about long horseback rides or camping in the cool shadows of the mountains. I will never forget his interest in the wildlife and his appreciation for the foliage. Nor will I forget how passionately he protected the autonomy of the park, and how much he cherished the culture and beauty of his home.

Senator Craig Thomas held my deepest respect; and, to his family and the people of Wyoming, I offer my deepest sympathies. He was a valuable public servant, a true fighter and a friend--and, more than anything, a true American.

Source