On the recordJune 28, 2010
I rise today out of deep respect for our colleague, Senator Robert C. Byrd. Sharla and I extend our condolences to the Byrd family and to all the people of West Virginia. We join you in mourning but also in a celebration of his life and his successes as a public servant. Senator Byrd liked to call me 'the Mountain Man,' and when somebody from the Mountain State calls you that, it is an incredible compliment. Senator Byrd and I had a few things in common: We were both from very small towns, we both married our high school sweethearts, and we both made a living at one time as meat cutters. He must have had an eye for the butchering business because he liked to guess my weight. And wouldn't you know, he always came within 3 pounds. You could say Senator Byrd convinced me to spend a little more time in the gym. Senator Byrd was elected to Congress 4 years before I was even born, and he always shared his wisdom with those of us who admired it. I am honored to call Senator Byrd a respected teacher and a trusted friend.
