S9464 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 17, 2007 HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN B. ‘‘This hurts me about as much as anything ship of the Daily News as he was about the GAINES that has happened,’’ he said. ‘‘He always had newspaper industry in general. time to talk to me. He was a great person.’’ ‘‘He didn’t like the idea of newspapers Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Michael G. Catlett, who was Gaines’ finan- being owned by impersonal public compa- I rise today to honor the life of a dis- cial consultant and friend, said Gaines ‘‘was nies,’’ Jones said. ‘‘He cared so much about tinguished Kentuckian, Mr. John B. a man who showed you personal attention. his community. He made that very clear, and Gaines, president of the Bowling Green He acted like he really cared for you when he that’s something our families shared. We’ve Daily News. He passed away last week was talking to you.’’ always placed a very high value on the bond at the age of 92. Gaines and Catlett often took walks between a newspaper and the community it John came by his passion for report- through Bowling Green, before walking be- serves.’’ came difficult for Gaines. Gaines especially loved helping small busi- ing news and connecting with the com- ‘‘I used to tell him, ‘I enjoy our walks ness people grow their businesses, Jones munity quite honestly. He was born downtown because it elevates my status in said. and raised in a newspaper family his the community,’ ‘‘ Catlett said. ‘‘He laughed ‘‘He considered his relationships with his grandfather founded the Daily News, about that.’’ advertisers and readers to be partnerships,’’ and his father ran the newspaper until With Gaines’ passing, Catlett said, Bowling Jones said. ‘‘So many people in Bowling his passing in 1947 and for half a cen- Green has lost a ‘‘treasure . a great man Green have built their businesses through (the) newspaper in Bowling Green. He loved tury, John served as the paper’s pub- of integrity, manners and respect.’’ Don Stringer, the former longtime man- that and seeing people succeed, and seeing lisher. When in Bowling Green, I al- aging editor at the Daily News, also talked Bowling Green progress.’’ ways appreciated the opportunity to about Gaines’ integrity. ‘‘At the same time, John was a fiercely sit down for a conversation with John. ‘‘He always stood behind us’’ in the news- independent guy,’’ Jones said—a newsman I will miss John and wish to extend room, Stringer said, ‘‘and he had no com- who at one time was a member of the Cal- my heartfelt sympathy to the entire punction, when we were right, about saying, endar Club literary group in Bowling Green, Gaines family—John Pipes Gaines and ‘That’s what we’re going to do.’’’ a former member of the Bowling Green Noon his wife Susan Leonard Gaines, Mollie With ‘‘a wonderful dry sense of humor,’’ Rotary Club, a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and a charter mem- Gaines Smith and her husband, S. Rus- Stringer said, Gaines took the newspaper business’s ups and downs in stride. ber of the Bowling Green-Warren County sell Smith, Jr., Mary Gaines Dunham Daily News general manager Mark Van Jaycees. and her husband, David Lee Dunham; Patten said many often overlooked Gaines’ Gaines was also chairman of the boards of and grandsons, John Scott Gaines, Ste- vivid wit because of his usually serious de- News Publishing LLC, which operates the phen Wilson Gaines, S. Russell Smith meanor. Daily News, and the Daily News Broad- III and John Brooken Smith and his But that demeanor came from his love for casting Company, which operates WKCT–AM wife, Katie. While the Bowling Green the newspaper, which was started by his and WDNS–FM radio stations in Bowling Green. community has lost a prominent voice, grandfather, also named John Gaines, in 1882. The younger John Gaines, a graduate of In his free time, Gaines loved fishing, dove John’s legacy will continue. The news- the University of Alabama, took over the hunting, traveling both domestically and paper is in good hands under the lead- running the Daily News after his dad, Clar- abroad, and good food, said his grandson, ership of his son, Pipes, and his ence M. Gaines, died in 1947. For half a cen- Steve Gaines, who is editorial page editor at grandsons working there. tury, he was the paper’s publisher. the Daily News. The paper he so loved and dedicated ‘‘He really loved the newspaper and loved ‘‘My fondest memories of my grandfather his life to paid tribute to him on Sun- this community,’’ Van Patten said, ‘‘and will always be spending countless hours fish- that was always foremost in decisions he ing next to him on the creek beds or count- day with an article titled ‘‘Daily News less hours in the dove field, either shooting president dies at 92.’’ I ask unanimous made.’’ Van Patten added he has ‘‘never worked for a publisher that had stronger eth- doves or talking about Alabama football,’’ consent that the full article be printed ics than Mr. Gaines,’’ who ‘‘just loved news- Steve Gaines said. in the RECORD, and that the entire Sen- paper and journalism and the business of John Gaines was also was loyal to his ate join me in honoring the life of this newspapers in general.’’ church, where he had served on the vestry beloved Kentuckian. Less than two weeks before he died, Gaines and was a trustee of the Delafield Com- There being no objection, the mate- was in his Daily News office, as he was near- mittee. The Rev. Howard Surface, who was Gaines’ ly every work day when he wasn’t ill—or, in rial was ordered to be printed in the pastor at Christ Episcopal Church for four his later years, spending 6 weeks each winter RECORD, as follows: decades, said that for years, Gaines came to in Florida. [From the Bowling Green Daily News, July ‘‘I could not believe it,’’ Grider said of the church several days a week. 15, 2007] ‘‘For many, many years my office was in Gaines’ devotion to his work at a time of life the front part of the church on State DAILY NEWS PRESIDENT DIES AT 92 when most have been retired for decades. Street,’’ Surface said, ‘‘and every day around (By Alicia Carmichael) Gaines’ mind was kept sharp because of his noon I would see John. He made a habit of work, Grider thinks. Daily News president and avid fisherman walking up State Street and he would stop ‘‘We had a lot of nice discussions,’’ Grider John B. Gaines always told his childhood at the church’s prayer chapel.’’ said, ‘‘and for his age, his mental capacity friend John Clagett ‘‘he was going to live Gaines’ also was devoted to his family, was remarkable.’’ until he got pulled under by a big fish at the Steve Gaines said. age of 90,’’ Clagett said Saturday. Gregg K. Jones, who is co-publisher of The ‘‘My grandfather said many times the best On Friday at The Medical Center, 92-year- Greeneville Sun in Tennessee, president of thing he ever did in life was marry Mabel old Gaines died quietly, surrounded by fam- Jones Media Inc., past chairman of the News- Sharp Gaines, and he was right.’’ ily, after a short illness. paper Association of America—the largest Gaines and his wife raised three children: ‘‘The big fish got him,’’ Clagett said sadly newspaper trade association in the United Pipes Gaines, who is now publisher of the Saturday from his home in Middleberry, VT. States—and a former president of the South- Daily News, Mary Gaines Dunham, who is re- Still, according to many of those who ern Newspaper Publishers Association, said tired from her job as national advertising di- knew him well, Gaines lived life to the full- Gaines was planning, as recently as two rector at the newspaper, and Mollie Gaines est until his last days. weeks ago, to attend this year’s SNPA meet- Smith, now of Louisville. ‘‘He had much difficulty getting around, ing in West Virginia. The couple also had several grandchildren, walking, but he came to church most every For two terms, Gaines was director of the including Scott Gaines, who is Steve Gaines’ Sunday’’ at Christ Episcopal Church, said association. He also served as president of brother and works in the business side of the John Grider, who through the years did the Kentucky Press Association, as his Daily News. bookkeeping, accounting and tax work for grandfather had once done, in 1962, and was Steve Gaines said he now takes solace in Gaines and served with Gaines on the board the 1980 recipient of the Edwards M. Templin the fact that his grandfather was surrounded of directors at Citizens National Bank. Memorial Award, which was presented by the by family when he died. He’s also comforted Ewing Hines, who worked for Gaines for 40 Lexington Herald-Leader to the Kentucky by the fact that his granddad knew the Daily years as a Daily News accountant, said newspaper person who performed the most News would stay in the Gaines family after Gaines was still talking about fishing on Fri- outstanding community service. his death. day. ‘‘He was revered in the Southern News- ‘‘He wouldn’t have wanted it any other ‘‘I called down at the hospital,’’ Hines said. paper Publishers Association,’’ Jones said, way,’’ he said. ‘‘(His son) Pipes took the phone, and I heard ‘‘and people were always excited to see him Stringer said he now thinks one of Gaines’ him say in the background, ’Tell him it’s a there, not only to hear what he had to say, greatest legacies has been passing down his good day to flyfish.’ And I thought he was but so they could learn from him.’’ sense of integrity to his children, and gave getting better.’’ Jones, whose family has owned The Gaines what he considers ‘‘the highest com- Now Hines can’t believe his ‘‘best friend’’ Greeneville Sun for generations, said Gaines pliment you can give’’ in the newspaper busi- is gone.