Trent Lott: “the Senate and all Americans lost a true professional yesterday. Veteran Associated Press photographer John Duricka died…”

“the Senate and all Americans lost a true professional yesterday. Veteran Associated Press photographer John Duricka died Monday at Arlington Hospital after long battle with cancer. The measure of John's professionalism and dedication is that he was on the job almost right up to the time of his death--doing what he loved and doing it wonderfully well. John's combination of mature demeanor and tough determination was a familiar face to all of us here in the Senate. He was a news photographer first--make no doubt about that. But he also respected the institution which he illustrated to the world every day with his pictures. Unlike the White House or the Federal agencies where photographers often are cordoned off from those they cover, the Congress shares its space with the media. John Duricka respected that unique relationship that we had with him and we returned that respect with our trust and appreciation for his talent. I want to express the Senate's sympathy to his son Darren, his daughter Tammy, and his mother Emily Duricka. All who treasure our freedoms of the press and free expression will miss his outstanding contributions to that end. We in the Senate will miss a respected friend.”