Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember journalist and community leader Tom Coffey. Last week, Tom Coffey died at the age of 92. He was one of the old- time newspaper guys. He never missed a chance to speak and listen to people he encountered. Mr. Coffey entered the news business as a copyboy when he graduated from Savannah High School in 1940. With the exception of a short time away to serve his country in World War II, where he was wounded in the Philippines, and a brief stint from 1969 to 1974, when he served as acting city manager of Savannah twice, he was a journalist until he retired as editor of the Savannah Morning News. More than 20 years ago, when Mr. Coffey retired in 1989, Representative Lindsay Thomas, my predecessor, referred to Tom as one of the most respected journalists in Georgia. During his life, Tom wrote about national news, including civil rights and desegregation, but he also wrote about the thrill of playing stickball in the backyards of Savannah and the local bootlegger who bribed local law enforcement. Tom's extraordinary career as a journalist and his work over the years has made life better for many people. He will truly be missed. ____________________”