Cord Byrd: “Who well lives, long lives; for this age of ours should not be numbered by years, days and hours. We are gathered here…”

“Who well lives, long lives; for this age of ours should not be numbered by years, days and hours. We are gathered here today to salute a friend and colleague who has lived long and spent his days well. Strom Thurmond has been a teacher, an athletic coach, an educational administrator, a lawyer, a State legislator, a circuit court judge, a county superintendent, a soldier, a Presidential nominee, and a Governor--and all of that was packed into just his first 52 years. In 1954, Strom won his first election to the Senate as a write-in candidate--beginning his Senate sojourn with the singular achievement of being the only person in history to be elected to the Senate in that fashion. As he began his Senate service with a ``first'' he also leaves it by setting two more records--that of being the longest serving Senator in U.S. history and also being the oldest person to serve in the U.S. Senate. May I note here that he is also the only person in the Senate who is old enough to be my big brother. But, Strom, like Casey Stengel, I'll never make the mistake of being 70 again. Strom Thurmond's life is not just about length and achievement, it is about personal service and commitment.”