Connie Mack: “the 10 days since his sudden passing and the outpouring of expression from many different directions have given me the…”

“the 10 days since his sudden passing and the outpouring of expression from many different directions have given me the opportunity to reflect on Paul's life, the gifts he brought to the Senate, and the impact his life had on people. I want to focus my remarks on Paul Coverdell's humility, which I think was his defining quality, his greatest gift, and one which had the greatest impact on the lives of others. Many people might say that humility, sometimes defined as freedom from pride or arrogance, is a quality not found often in our society today. No one disputes, however, that Paul Coverdell possessed a deep sense of humility. During the past 10 days, Paul Coverdell has been described as: Serious and low key; self-effacing; uncomfortable in the limelight; a humble public servant who became a political giant through selfless dedication and quiet civility; a very gentle and courteous person; a person people went to, felt really comfortable with, and opened up to; a person who really cared for what happened to others; a person many regarded as the Senate's leading mediator; a person of scrupulous integrity and unblemished character; a person with an unsurpassed work ethic and standard of personal ethics and devotion to what he was doing; a person who always kept his word and was someone you could count on--just to mention a few characterizations.”