Byron Dorgan: “I would like to join this tribute to Kent Hall, following on the remarks offered by Senator Harkin from Iowa and my…”

“I would like to join this tribute to Kent Hall, following on the remarks offered by Senator Harkin from Iowa and my colleague, Senator Conrad from North Dakota. I knew Kent Hall, who was Senator Conrad's chief of staff, for 12 years in the time that he had served North Dakota and served with Senator Conrad. I was shocked to learn Saturday morning that Kent had died Friday evening in his sleep. I know how difficult it is for his family right now. I know how difficult it is for Senator Conrad and his staff, the extended family that worked with Kent Hall and served with him in the Senate. We lead busy, fast-paced and challenging lives here. Kent Hall was a part of that. We, from time to time, I suppose, forget to tell people what an integral role people like Kent Hall play to make this system of ours work. Kent Hall was smart, was tough, and yet had a great sense of humor. He was a quick study. He worked very hard. He always had a twinkle in his eye. He was quite an extraordinary man. He always, to me, had a certain dignity about him as well. When Kent was around in a meeting or with a group of people, he was always the one who had that certain sense of dignity. Yes, he had the sense of humor, but he had a sense of dignity that was unusual as well. The last time I talked to Kent, I guess it was a couple of weeks ago before the August recess, and what we talked about then was what he talked about a lot--it was his children. We talked about our children.”