Charles Skelton: “I find myself somewhere between shock and disbelief this afternoon. And yet as I sat in this Chamber listening to our…”

“I find myself somewhere between shock and disbelief this afternoon. And yet as I sat in this Chamber listening to our colleagues reflect upon our friend Julian Dixon, I sat in amazement that even out of the grief and sadness of this moment, such warm and eloquent words could be spoken of someone's life, and I realized that any words I speak would not measure up. I knew him. He was a colleague. I was on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence with Julian Dixon. I worked with him. He was as bright as a tack. Patient. I will repeat that. He was patient. The polestar of his work on that committee as I witnessed it was that of American security. But more than his work on that committee, I witnessed him in leadership positions in this House. He was a true role model. He was someone who gave advice freely and, more than anything, served as a friend. That is how I will remember Julian Dixon, as a friend. I express my sympathy to his wife Bettye, to his family, to his colleagues from his State, and to those who knew him well. He was not only a gentleman, he was a gentle man. We shall long remember him.”