Dan Burton: “Mr. Speaker, I met Frank O'Bannon, our now-deceased Governor, I met his father back in the late 1960s when I served with…”

“Mr. Speaker, I met Frank O'Bannon, our now-deceased Governor, I met his father back in the late 1960s when I served with his father in the Indiana State Senate. His father was editor and publisher of a newspaper in Corydon, Indiana; and he was one of the finest men I ever served with. He was a real gentleman. Even though we had our differences, Governor O'Bannon's father was a wonderful man. Mr. Speaker, we know a lot about people by their children. And although I knew Senator O'Bannon, Governor O'Bannon's father, very well, I was not sure about what kind of family man he was. But then I met his son who became Senator after his dad retired, and Senator Frank O'Bannon was also one of the finest men I ever served with in the Indiana State Senate. His brother, Bob, who is a businessman in Indianapolis, is also fine man. We know a lot about people by their children, and Governor O'Bannon was a wonderful man, and I am sure his mother was a wonderful woman as well. Governor O'Bannon was revered by everyone who knew him, whether it was a Republican or a Democrat. He was a very fine public servant, a man who really cared about his fellow man and his civic responsibilities. He learned that from his father and mother and worked hard in both the Indiana State Senate and as Governor. Although we had political differences, I always admired him because he was a man of honor. If he gave you his word, you could take it to the bank.”