Trent Lott: “I, too, rise today to pay tribute to our fallen friend, the distinguished Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Craig Thomas. My…”

“I, too, rise today to pay tribute to our fallen friend, the distinguished Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Craig Thomas. My wife Tricia and I were greatly saddened this morning when we rose and found out that Craig had lost his battle with this form of leukemia. The four of us have been together many times, socially and in business settings. We have had some great experiences together in other parts of the world. We were so sad to learn he had passed away. It was heightened by the fact that he seemed to have done so well after his first round of treatment. It was a great pleasure to come on the floor over the last couple months and see him looking better every day. He seemed to feel good. So I was personally excited that he was going to whip this thing. That was his attitude, as a true marine. He was fighting a battle to win. He brought to the Senate a special down-to-Earth Wyoming wisdom, reflective of the unique part of the country he represented so well. Cody, WY, where he was born, is a special place. Craig was the epitome of the people in that part of our great country. In a legislative body of sometimes showboats, lightning rods and mavericks, Craig was an engine of the Senate. He was not flamboyant. He didn't try to be. He kept plodding along, trying to find a way to get the right results and help the Senate do its job.”