May 24, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5881 teach American history and the Con- This remarkable performance is a tribute they are short enough. Good stuff, but, in re- stitution to our young people. to his school, though schools are rarely membering Roman, I’m inclined to want to Each day Melissa teaches eleventh praised these days. This success requires ef- cover everything, filibuster a bit, if you and twelfth graders about the Con- fective instruction year upon year. please, and exhaust both your goodwill and stitution and how it is used in every- His award is an accolade that also belongs patience, so I’ll condense best I can! He was to his parents, who support his studies. so special to me and many of you, too. day life and how it is reflected in our Would that more parents lavished as much HIS WORK ETHIC society. The future of our country de- time on their children’s academics as they Roman’s work was always his total recre- pends on today’s students and on their do on their sports. ation—Oh, occasionally he would super- knowledge and comprehension of our The high finish is also a sign that he is a ficially fish, hunt and in later years, cheer smart kid, very smart, and that is worth a Constitution and government. the mighty Cornhuskers on to victory! Early great deal in the life Alex and his classmates She not only gives her students on, I must concede, he would have easily ac- have ahead of them. greater understanding of our country, cepted the specious thought that ‘‘a quarter- Of course, schools cannot fix their atten- but she also inspires her students to back was a refund on the ticket.’’ tion solely on top students, because they achieve more through her example. By Many here will remember genial Dean must serve everyone who enters their doors. Pohlenz, the Senator’s long time and won- continuing her own education, Melissa But they can recognize talent and reward derful AA. He and I once seriously conspired is showing her students that the edu- performance, because it motivates other stu- against Roman and another very studious cational process should never end. dents, and because it serves as a reminder of and important top aide to Roman, Bob I applaud Melissa for her hard work what school is for: to learn, to strive, to fail Kutak. (Kutak and Harold Rock later orga- and dedication to her profession and at times and gain by the experience, and to nized Kutak-Rock, a very successful national achieve. for her commitment to her students law firm with which Roman proudly associ- ∑ For his knowledge of math, statistics, ge- and to learning. ated after leaving the Senate.) Kutak’s inter- ometry and more, Alex receives a $6,000 col- f est and knowledge of sports made Roman lege scholarship—a fitting prize. Learning look like the legendary Grantland Rice. So, SALUTE TO ALEX XUE offers rewards for every student, though, not Dean and I decided to reserve a table for four just the smartest, and education level is the ∑ Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on Fri- in the Senate Dining Room for Roman and clearest indicator of a person’s later wages. Kutak, and then have two New York baseball day May 14th, MATHCOUNTS held its Won’t it be fun to see what becomes of stalwarts, Casey Stengel and Yogi Berra join national competition in Washington, Alex and his abilities? Wouldn’t it be some- them for lunch, ostensibly for Berra and D.C.—the culmination of local and thing if society thought of every child’s po- Stengel to advise on finalizing a professional State competitions involving 350,000 tential that way?∑ students. It gives me great pleasure to sports anti-trust bill. It didn’t happen, but f we figured that a recording of that awkward inform my colleagues that Alex Xue, a luncheon conversation would have gone resident of Essex Junction, VT finished ‘‘FRIENDS OF ROMAN LEE HRUSKA’’ down in history as a sports classic—of sorts. second in this competition and re- Just a few Hruska vignettes: ∑ ceived a $6,000 college scholarship. Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask DEBATE COMRADES In a day and age where we are that the attached comments made by At Commerce High School, Roman was a bombarded by reports of failing school the Honorable Charles Thone at the star debater. His team should go down as a systems and apathetic young people, I memorial service for former Senator Hall of Famer. The team was Harry Cohen, a believe it is extremely important to Roman Lee Hruska, be printed in the brilliant lawyer who was later President of recognize Alex’s tremendous accom- RECORD for Monday, April 26, 1999, im- the Nebraska Bar Association; Dick Robin- plishment. His success is a tribute not mediately following my remarks enti- son, another very successful lawyer, and a only to his own intelligence and hard tled, ‘‘Tribute to U.S. Senator Roman beloved Federal District Judge; Jerry Kutak, work, but also to his family, his teach- L. Hruska.’’ business tycoon, President of Guarantee Life of Hammond, Ind; and Roman. They stayed ers and his school community. The comments follow: In addition to meeting with Alex and life-long friends and confidants and what a FRIENDS OF ROMAN LEE HRUSKA joy it was just to see the four together vis- his MATHCOUNTS teammates on the Friends all: iting and reminiscing. Senate steps prior to the competition, First, let me, and all of you here today, OMAHA ROOTS by coincidence, I was on Alex’s flight recognize two special people, Millie and Carl Roman loved Omaha, and he effectively back to Vermont on the Sunday fol- Curtis. Sen. Curtis served all 22 years with promoted his town throughout his career—he Roman, and Senator Hruska always ac- lowing his competition. I had a chance was the Senate architect of its Interstate knowledged that no U.S. Senator ever had a to talk with Alex and compliment him System. S.A.C. and his friend, Curtis LeMay, more caring, a better and more cooperative on his tremendous achievement. He were also tremendous beneficiaries of his colleague anywhere—anytime. Thank you, was holding the trophy he had received Senate Appropriation skills. Chuck Durham, Senator Curtis. and when I admired it, although it was Ed Owen, Morrie Jacobs, Art Storz, Don clear that he was happy with it, he was INTRODUCTIONS Ross, John McCollister, Peter Kiewit, Cliff especially pleased with the college It seems only fitting to also recognize all and Ann Batchelder were notables as his scholarship. I praised him as any public officials present. It is from thence, early Omaha Betterment Co-Conspirators. that Roman sprung. He epitomized public WORLD-HERALD RESPECT Vermonter would, but I was impressed service at its best. He lived it! He loved it! He always thought the Omaha World-Her- with his modesty and his pride in his He honored it! ald was easily the country’s best newspaper family and school. This is a young man He would have been pleased to know that, and frequently checked in with then pub- at the outset here, all Judges, current & who will do remarkably well in life and lisher, Walt Christensen and editor, Fred past, all Federal, State and County officials, we Vermonters should be proud that he Ware—and, there was also a brilliant, hard current and past, are asked to stand for a is one of us. working Statehouse and Douglas County brief silent recognition. I also want to espe- I ask that the editorial detailing Court House Reporter named Harold Ander- cially recognize Governor Mike Johanns; Alex’s achievement, which appeared in sen, whom he respected very much. World- Former Governor Kay Orr and Bill; Former Herald-wise, we wonder what ever happened the Burlington Free Press, be printed Governor Ben Nelson, Former Governor and to Harold. in the RECORD. U.S. Senator Jim Exon and Pat; former Con- The article follows: gressman John Y. McCollister and Nan; Ne- FAMILY LOVE [From the Burlington Free Press, May 19, braska Supreme Court Chief Justice John Family was most important to Roman. His 1999] Hendry; Congressman Doug Bereuter and wife and life-long partner, Victoria Kuncl WHAT ALEX KNOWS Louise; and Congressman Lee Terry. Also, a Hruska was simply the best. A special wife Imagine a 13-year-old boy who finished sec- special salute to former chair of the Lan- and mother—and a political associate in a ond in the nation in an athletic event. caster County Board and the lifelong Doug- very effective low-key way—no flim-flam, no Vermont would know exactly how to cele- las Theatre skilled business partner of nonsense, just herself—beautiful Victoria. brate: His parents and coaches would be Roman, Russell Brehm of Lincoln and his We last visited with able and vivacious praised, he would be held up as a role model charming wife Louise Brehm. Also, Attorney daughter, Jana at the David City Library for other kids, his community would be General Don Stenberg, a former Hruska staff Dedication Ceremony. She has been suffering proud. member. terribly with dreaded Lou Gehrig’s disease. Alex Xue of Essex Junction deserves the It was the British iconoclast, George B. Her devoted husband, Charlie Fagan, is here same response, for scoring second in a na- Shaw who once wisely opined, ‘‘No remarks from Maryland. Son Quentin came home sev- tionwide math contest last week. from a former Governor are all that bad’’—if eral years ago and carefully cared so well for VerDate Mar 15 2010 22:52 Nov 01, 2013 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\1999SENATE\S24MY9.REC S24MY9 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S5882 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 24, 1999 his parents.