Political Quotes

“many of my colleagues may not yet be aware of the death earlier today of one of America's giants. Eudora Welty died this afternoon in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 92. Her literary career spanned portions of 7 decades, and her awards and decorations place her among the superstars of American literature. Her novel, The Optimist's Daughter, earned her the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. In addition, her honors included four O. Henry prizes, the National Book Foundation Medal, the American Academy of Arts and Letters William Dean Howells Medal, the National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for the Novel, the American Book Award for Literature, the American Book Award for Paperback Fiction, the Phi Beta Kappa Association Award, and many more. It is a point of personal pride for me that Miss Welty was a native Mississippian, having been born in Jackson in 1909 and educated in the public schools of our State, as well as at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. For years, we Mississippians have considered Eudora Welty our State's preeminent citizen. May 2 is annually celebrated in Mississippi as Eudora Welty Day. Mississippians are also proud of the fact that she has been increasingly recognized throughout America as a national treasure. She was appointed to the National Council on the Arts by President Nixon in 1972, and she twice received the Freedom Medal of Honor from Presidents Carter and Reagan.”