Jeff Fortenberry: “on Sunday America lost a brilliant entertainer, a gifted comedian, and a generous philanthropist. Johnny Carson, who…”

“on Sunday America lost a brilliant entertainer, a gifted comedian, and a generous philanthropist. Johnny Carson, who passed away at the age of 79, lived much of his life in California, but he never forgot his Nebraska roots. Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa, but at the age of 8, he and his family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, a community which continues to embrace him. Johnny Carson graduated from Norfolk High School in 1943, and, by the way, Mr. Speaker, that is where he happened not to make the cheerleader squad three times. He then served his country as an ensign in the Navy during World War II. He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in radio and speech in 1949. Although much attention has been paid in recent days to the impact that Johnny Carson had on television, I would like to focus on his generosity, which took on many forms. The list of his financial contributions to communities and institutions is very impressive. It seemed that whenever a project in the Norfolk area was short of funds, Johnny Carson came to the rescue. But he did it in his trademark modest and unassuming style, and, in fact, many of his donations were made anonymously. Over the years he developed an impressive philanthropic legacy.”