Liz Saville Roberts: “today, in the Cape Girardeau First Presbtyerian Church, in very emotional but appropriate services, the loving family…”

“today, in the Cape Girardeau First Presbtyerian Church, in very emotional but appropriate services, the loving family, friends, colleagues, and constituents of Bill Emerson bade farewell and paid tribute to our dear friend and colleague. Mr. Speaker, just 2 days ago, Member after Member of this body rose in an outpouring of personal tribute to our late colleague; the comments diverse in content but uniform in affection, appreciation, and sense of personal loss. A veteran member of this House observed the tribute to Bill was the most far reaching in terms of both time and members that has been witnessed in recent times. Mr. Speaker, the American Heritage Dictionary defines 'eulogy' as a public speech or tribute extolling the virtues or achievements of a person and honoring one recently deceased. The eulogy for Bill was given by his longtime friend and trusted assistant, Lloyd Smith, and in his remarks, Lloyd provided all of us a life portrait of Bill so fitting to our celebration of his life. In behalf of the Speaker and all of those present, we thank Lloyd for his most fitting, appropriate and comforting tribute.”