May 18, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E873 Neither President nor Presi- Although Clinton did not sign the inter- TRIBUTE TO SONNY CALLAHAN, dent George W. Bush signed the treaty, national mine ban, he ordered the Pentagon 2009 MOBILIAN OF THE YEAR which was negotiated in 1997 and took effect in 1998 to develop alternatives to anti- in 1999. Their rejections left the United personnel mines, with the goal of giving States at odds with more than 150 countries them up completely by 2006. HON. that embraced the accord, including every In 2004, in response to objections from the OF member of NATO. Pentagon, Bush adopted a different policy IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The treaty prohibits the manufacture, that permits the U.S. military to use sophis- trade and stockpiling of land mines. The ticated mines that are designed to self-de- Tuesday, May 18, 2010 United States has not used antipersonnel struct within a fixed number of days. The Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay mines since the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and idea was to reduce civilian casualties from stopped producing them in 1997, but the mili- unexploded mines left on the battlefield. tribute to former Alabama Congressman tary keeps about 10 million of them in re- At the same time, Bush set a deadline of Sonny Callahan, who was honored on April 8 serve. with the Mobilian of the Year Award, pre- In November, State Department spokes- 2010 for the U.S. military to end the use of man Ian Kelly announced that the Obama antipersonnel or anti-vehicle mines that sented by the Cottage Hill Civitan Club. administration had decided against signing lack timers. Obama administration officials Former Congressman Callahan received the the treaty, saying, ‘‘We would not be able to have said that they are on track to meet Bienville Plaque and a proclamation from meet our national defense needs nor our se- that deadline this year. Mayor Sam Jones. curity commitments to our friends and al- Neither China nor Russia has ratified the I was honored to deliver a tribute to Sonny lies.’’ But after Leahy and human-rights international mine ban treaty. Human rights Callahan’s life and career during the award groups say there is little pressure for them groups condemned the decision, the State celebration on April 8 and below is an excerpt Department said it would revisit the issue to do so as long as the United States doesn’t and conduct a broader policy review. sign. of my remarks. White House and State Department The Sonny Callahan story is much like spokesmen emphasized Friday that the ad- f that of many other young men his age—and ministration is in the midst of a comprehen- from that time in Mobile’s past. But Sonny, sive review, cutting across all affected agen- HONORING THE LIFE OF EL HADJ according to those who have known him the cies, that will not be completed for some AMADOU THIOUF longest, was always someone special. He had months. But two senior U.S. officials speak- the good looks, the charm and personality ing on the condition of anonymity indicated that made other people feel good about that the administration is actively looking HON. ED PASTOR themselves when they were with him. for ways to come into compliance with the He had a natural charisma and intellect, OF ARIZONA treaty without endangering national secu- often masked with that Reagan-esque self- rity needs. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES deprecating humor, that made Sonny, even ‘‘We are asking that if you come into com- Tuesday, May 18, 2010 to his peers and colleagues, a natural-born pliance, what would be the costs and the ben- leader that people gravitated to for his coun- efits—and if there are costs, how can they be Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I sel and advice, for his often unique perspec- addressed in other ways,’’ one senior official rise before you today to honor the life of a tive on life . . . or simply for a little humor said. The official described the administration’s great educator, El Hadj Amadou Thiouf. Born and levity to lighten the moment. review as ‘‘a herculean effort’’ intended to in Bargny, Senegal, he devoted his entire life As the story goes, we know he used those ‘‘cut through reflexive reactions’’ to the to the cause of education. Studying for 4 talents early on in the world of business and issue of eliminating land mines from the it was a success story that made for a nat- years at ecole normal William Ponty, an elite ural campaign brochure. Pentagon’s arsenal. school in Thies, Senegal, he was first as- Officials also said they welcomed the indi- I’ll never forget what our wonderful friend, cation of bipartisan support represented by signed to Lamingue, Kaolack, where he mentor and advisor, the late Bill Yeager, the Leahy letter. served for 2 years and met his wife Adj Fatou told me when I was first interviewing to be Another senior U.S. official, speaking on Ndoye. They were married on August 11, Sonny’s campaign press secretary back in the condition of anonymity to discuss inter- 1957. 1982 . . . Bill said, ‘‘Jo, Sonny’s story of a nal deliberations, said the administration is From 1957 to 1971, he lived in Rufisque self-made man who grew up with all the rea- looking at what new technologies could be where he taught at three different institutions: sons not to succeed, but overcoming one ob- used to bring the United States into compli- stacle after another, always finding a way to ance with the treaty while also allowing it Diokoul, Fass and Matar Seck. In 1971, he be successful, is not just biographical hype. to respond to threats such as North Korea. was sent to Matam, a city in northwest Sen- ‘‘Even if he is sometimes hard to pin- Some military officials want to maintain the egal, and then moving again, serving in down,’’ Bill told me, Sonny is truly one of U.S. stockpile in case it is needed to slow an Bargny, the city of his birth, from 1972 to the most decent human beings I have ever invasion of South Korea by the North. About 1975. known.’’ 30,000 U.S. forces are stationed in the South. In 1978, he returned to his hometown of And as Bill Yeager often was in his judg- The Pentagon declined to say whether it ment of others, he was right on the money as would support the treaty, citing the Obama Rufisque and became the principal of Thiokho Elementary School, the school close to his it related to Sonny. administration’s review. ‘‘It would be pre- Sonny’s early success on the campaign mature at this time to provide any state- home and where his children attended. There, trail . . . he was elected to the Alabama ment until the review is complete,’’ said he remained as principal until 1985, when he House in 1970 and only once—in the 14 times Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary. became the head of El Hadj Ousseynou his name appeared on the ballot—did he not Leahy, who has fought for a land-mine ban Diagne, the largest elementary school in finish first—was an omen of even bigger op- for many years, said there was bipartisan Rufisque. portunities that would come. support in Congress for ratifying the treaty. But Sonny wasn’t just someone who loved Ten Republicans have signed the letter to After a long and distinguished career as an educator, Mr. Thiouf retired on September 9, politics . . . he loved helping people. Obama, which Leahy said will be delivered to And that, my friends, is a distinction that the White House next week. The lead Repub- 1992. He is a recipient of the Ordre National sadly, too few of us make when it comes to lican co-sponsor is Sen. George V. Voinovich du Lion, Senegal’s highest national honor and lumping everyone in politics in the same vat. (Ohio), Leahy aides said. the Chevalier des Palmes Acade`miques for In November, Leahy criticized the Obama There were the light-hearted moments . . . administration’s initial decision to reject his lifelong dedication and commitment to edu- like the time when Sonny was driving to the treaty as ‘‘a default of U.S. leadership.’’ cation. Montgomery when the legislature was in ses- Since then, he said, White House and State In 1998, Mr. Thiouf and his wife became sion and his friend, Tommy Sandusky, had Department officials have left him with the permanent residents of the United States and finally gotten one of those Motorola car impression that they are seriously consid- spent half their time in the United States and phones almost a year after Sonny had gotten ering adopting the treaty, especially if he his first car telephone. the other half in Senegal. The story goes that Tommy was so proud can help deliver the votes in a Senate that is He is survived by his widow Fatou Ndoye usually sharply divided along partisan lines. of the fact that he had finally caught up to ‘‘It’s been a much more positive response and their 10 children: Mame, Diaraf, Abdou, Sonny, that he pulled up to Sonny in his car than I’ve seen in a long, long time,’’ Leahy Seynabou, Pape, Adj, Sokhna, Awa and Ma- at a stoplight in Montgomery, picked up the said of his talks with administration offi- homet. Mr. Thiouf also had 13 grandchildren. phone and called him to say, ‘‘hey Sonny, I cials. Their oldest son Alassane, a graduate of the just wanted you to know that I’m calling Leahy noted that Obama has pushed for a University of Arizona, died in a tragic car acci- you on my car phone.’’ global reduction in nuclear arms; ignoring . . . to which Sonny—with that quick Cal- land mines, he added, could undercut U.S. di- dent in September 1990 in Senegal. lahan wit replied without missing a beat— plomacy on that front. ‘‘If we want to keep Madam Speaker, it is an honor to come be- ‘‘Tommy that’s great . . . unfortunately, I the high moral ground, then we have to do fore you today and share the life of this great can’t talk right now because my other phone it,’’ he said. man. is ringing.’’

VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:33 May 19, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A18MY8.040 E18MYPT1 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REMARKS E874 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 18, 2010 Sonny was always one step ahead of most young mother who had that blind and deaf . . . Sonny got the money to help refurbish of us. But the light-hearted memories take a son . . . the veteran whose government had the historic old Monroe County Courthouse, back seat to the stories that were never forgotten him long after his service had just as he secured the funding for the Foley written in the press but were the headlines ended . . . or the worker who toiled in the Beach Express. of Sonny Callahan’s amazing life. hot, un-air conditioned plant and never knew When they start construction on the new I got a call the other day from a lady who what the inside of a college classroom looked VA cemetery in Baldwin County, it will be said when she heard that Congressman Cal- like, but who, when he became injured on the because of Sonny Callahan’s determination— lahan had been named Mobilian of the Year, job, turned to Congressman Callahan for the and leadership—several years ago, that this she simply wanted me to be sure and men- help he needed. dream will one day soon become a reality. tion that had it not been for Sonny, her son As he gained seniority and certainly after But as I have said before, Sonny never did . . . who at age two had meningitis which his party had taken the majority in Congress any of this for personal gratification or rec- left him deaf and blind . . . would have been with the historic 1994 election, Sonny never ognition. He did it because it was what the institutionalized. When her father arranged let the additional titles and responsibilities people of his district needed and wanted. for her to go see Sonny to tell him her that came with those leadership positions After he retired from Congress, grateful plight, Sonny promised her that he would change what was important to him. communities and groups alike began the help. Sure, when he became the Chairman of the naming process . . . a tiny little bridge near And help he did. Sonny found the money to House Appropriations Subcommittee on For- Foley, the airport in Fairhope, a building at start the area school for Deaf and Blind here eign Operations—the committee that funds Mercy Medical, a Boys and Girls Club in in Mobile, patterned after the one in all of America’s foreign aid—Sonny would West Mobile. Talledega, and today, some 44 years later, come to the office often to find a line of No one did more to help make sure Mobile her son was able to graduate from high Kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers wait- Bay was included in the National Estuary school, go on to college and is now a success- ing for just a few minutes of his time. Program, or build on the work started by his ful young businessman. With tears of grati- But Sonny would remind his staff . . . predecessor to help expand and protect Bon tude, this lady wanted me to say ‘‘thank don’t get too impressed, these folks are here Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Weeks you’’ to the man who helped give her son a to see ‘‘the chairman.’’ If it were not me, Bay Estuary. new lease on life. they’d be standing outside someone else’s of- A few years ago, The University of Ala- But that is just one of the many rich sub- fice. bama was able to complete work on the fin- chapters of the Sonny Callahan legacy. In And never once, when Sonny had control of est child development center in the nation, truth, they all have a similar storyline. a budget that was greater than the budgets thanks solely to Sonny Callahan’s leader- Also from his days in the Legislature, of two or three states combined . . . did he ship. there was Callahan Tuition tax credit that ever think talking to a head of state was At about the same time, the University of help Alabama’s private colleges, like Spring more important than talking to Mayor Shell Alabama Birmingham established an en- Hill, Birmingham Southern and Huntington, in Atmore, Judge Biggs in Monroe County or dowed student scholars program in his honor assist young Alabamians with their dream of some person who didn’t have a title, but who because, as they said, his creation of the a college diploma. just needed to talk to ‘‘my congressman Child Survival and Diseases program—back Perhaps most lasting, there was also the about a personal matter.’’ when he was in Congress—guaranteed that Heritage Trust Fund that Sonny’s leadership If our friend, Mayer Mitchell, were still children and adults—‘‘from the Black Belt of helped establish for the oil and gas leases alive, he would be the first to tell you that Alabama all the way to Bangladesh—today that were being let in the mid-1970s. This when Sonny flew to Israel to meet late one enjoy cleaner water, safer food and a lower fund mandated that the State invest the night with Prime Minister Benjamin incidence of disease because of Sonny’s la- principal and instead live off the tens of mil- Netanyahu, to discuss a new plan that Sonny bors.’’ lions of dollars that would accrue in interest had conceived to decrease the economic aid In 2004, our local veterans made him the every year, assisting dozens of worthwhile to Israel while, at the same time, increase ‘‘Patriot of the Year,’’ Governor Riley ap- state programs over the past 30 years. the military assistance to our best ally in pointed him to serve on the board of the Ala- When Jack Edwards retired from Congress the Middle East, neither Mayer nor even bama Port Authority . . . in 1984 after an impressive 20 years of serv- President Bill Clinton, who had told Sonny And I’m telling you . . . I literally could go ice, Sonny got in the race to succeed him— just hours before the trip that this couldn’t on and on. with Jack’s full blessings and support, no be done, gave him any chance for success. There were also the gaffes . . . we’ve all less—and shortly thereafter he began what But succeed he did. And that’s why when made them and most of us, when we do, it would become an equally-impressive 18-year- President Clinton needed a Republican to eats us to the core. Not Sonny. He always run. step up and provide the crucial support for kept things like that in perspective . . . like The kind of commitment to helping others his administration’s plan for Bosnia—back the time he admitted to being in the desert that Sonny had become known for in the leg- when most Republicans and a lot of Demo- when Operation Desert Storm commenced. islature soon became the hallmark of his crats weren’t eager to go along—the presi- Sonny was in the desert . . . at a luxury Congressional service as well. dent turned to Sonny to provide that leader- hotel in Palm Springs playing golf . . . but About six months after Sonny had taken ship. that wasn’t the sand most people were think- office, we had the long-awaited dedication of Soon thereafter, others on both sides of the ing about at the time. the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It was political aisle followed his leadership and Or the time that he told both President every politican’s dream . . . a beautiful, fes- this humble, self-described, ‘‘back-bencher’’ and Mrs. Clinton that they needed to slow tive day, thousands of people in attendance, in Congress, was fast becoming a major play- down the money spigot going to other coun- and everyone was in an upbeat mood. er on the international stage. tries . . . you can imagine how much fun the Jack, naturally, was invited to sit on the From the pages of the Washington Post to press secretary had at the time trying to ex- speaker’s platform with the governor, both the Wall Street Journal, conservative and plain his comment ‘‘it’s Halloween in Wash- senators, the mayor and all of the other dig- liberal pundits alike called Chairman Cal- ington and if you want to get some treats, nitaries of the day. After all, Jack Edwards lahan ‘‘an unlikely champion.’’ just put a turbain on your head and go knock had spent practically his entire 20-year-ten- But once again, the folks in his hometown on the White House door.’’ ure in Congress trying to keep the funding were always more comfortable calling him The Washington press corps loved that going for what was the biggest public works Sonny, not even congressman, and to him, line, Sonny got the President’s attention but project in American history. that was his reassurance that he had not lost I got a migraine dealing with that one. But true to form, when it came Sonny’s touch with those for whom he worked. And of course, when Secretary of State turn to speak, the newly-minted freshman The list of his signature accomplishments Madeleine Albright was in Mobile, he meant congressman took the microphone, thanked throughout southwest Alabama is literally it as a compliment when he said, ‘‘Mad- everyone for coming out and said, ‘‘you endless. I honestly don’t know of a complete eleine, you are like a flamingo in the barn- know, Jack, you certainly accomplished a assessment. yard of politics.’’ lot for our area during your 20 years in Con- But here’s just a quick stab at some of the She has actually told others that she gress. But let the record show that it was highlights . . . Sonny secured the initial couldn’t have had a more supportive chair- during my first six months in Congress that funding for what is today the Mitchell Can- man to work with than Sonny Callahan so, we were finally able to finish the Tenn- cer Center at the University of South Ala- congressman, I think she knew you were Tom!’’ bama . . . he helped make the initial down- paying her a compliment. Jack likes to tell people that he knew then payment on the new library at Spring Hill But I’m going to close by saying this to to- that he had backed the right man to follow College . . . he found the funding to restore night’s honoree . . . and I want to say this as in his footsteps. the historic GM&O Building in downtown all of your friends and family are listening While others in Congress have spent their Mobile . . . he secured the first installment on . . . time building monuments to themselves, for a new bridge to replace congested tunnels As I’ve been reflecting back over our al- Sonny quietly went about doing the work along Interstate 10 . . . most 3 decades together, your story really that a true member of the ‘‘People’s House’’ The money to replace the 14 mile rail road isn’t like most everyone else’s . . . for when takes pride in doing for it was always about bridge, funding for towns like Fairhope, you were given the opportunity . . . an op- the ‘‘people’’ that Sonny worked for . . . the Bayou La Batre, Jackson and Thomasville portunity that few people in life are really

VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:33 May 19, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K18MY8.009 E18MYPT1 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with REMARKS May 18, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E875 ever afforded . . . to do great things and to but he could fly higher than an eagle, be- Finally, and I know Sonny would be the make your mark, you did—and I truly mean cause she was the wind beneath his wings. first to agree with this, but I must also this—you always did it with humility and I must admit that until I was elected to thank the tremendously dedicated, loyal and with humor . . . without the malice and Congress, myself, in 2002—thanks in no small extremely talented staff that Sonny brought nasty partisanship that is so prevalent in part to Sonny and the incredible reputation together during his many years in the public Washington today . . . you did it because of he had earned—you know, when Sonny re- arena. the greater good that would accrue to the tired he had the highest approval rating of benefit of untold numbers of people that you any sitting member in the entire U.S. Con- No one person can answer all the mail, re- might not ever meet or know . . . but you gress at 92 percent—contrast that today with turn all the phone calls, make all the con- did ‘‘it’’ . . . whatever ‘‘it’’ was . . . because an approval rating for Congress, as a whole, tacts that are required to be made and do ev- ‘‘it’’ was the right thing to do at the right at an embarrassing 13 percent nationally— erything else that is expected of a person time to do it. Thank you, Sonny, for always and I don’t know that even I fully appre- who has 635,000 constituents—as well as a na- being our champion. ciated the demanding, difficult—and yet ab- tional responsibility—and while Sonny was Before I turn the microphone over to solutely critical roles—that the spouse and the best I have ever seen in this often-mis- Mayor Jones, I would be extremely remiss if family of a public figure play. understood job, he was able to do what he did I did not thank two other groups of people But Karen, for all sacrifices that you, because he surrounded himself with a team who deserve special recognition . . . first of Scott, Patrick, Shawn, Chris, Kelly and the that was second-to-none. all, to Sonny’s family . . . certainly his always close-to-our-heart, Cameron, have brothers and sisters and countless cousins, made . . . for the nights, the days, the weeks Together, his family and his staff can take but most especially, his beloved Karen . . . and the years that y’all have shared your great pride in knowing that the lives Sonny wife, partner, soul-mate and mother to their wonderful husband—and daddy, and now has touched . . . and the legacy Sonny has six children. granddaddy—with everyone else . . . thank built . . . is a living testament to your un- Sonny used to say that Karen must have you. selfish love, loyalty and admiration of a man been the inspiration for the song, ‘‘Wind Be- Mobile—and indeed the entire state of Ala- known by kings and presidents . . . movie neath My Wings,’’ because she was always bama—is a better place to live because of the stars and musicians . . . truck drivers and there for him, standing off in his shadow, man you love and tonight, the man we ditch-diggers . . . simply as our friend, never having the sunlight on her face . . . honor. Sonny Callahan.

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