On the recordSeptember 8, 2015
I would like to just take a minute to join with Congresswoman Kaptur, with Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, and with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty in honoring the life of Louis Stokes. We attended his funeral a few weeks back, and I just want to say there were so many great stories that came about through his passing-- from his family and from his grandkids, who gave beautiful eulogies, stories of their grandfather. This is just to say, when I first got to the United States Congress as a young Congressman of 29 years old, it was Congressman Stokes who sat in my office, who gave me counsel, who was always there and was always in a good mood, who was always joking and playing around and having a good time; but he took his job very seriously and took being a Member of Congress very seriously. The striking and remarkable thing about him was, no matter how high up the ladder he moved, he always had time. Whether it was for a young boy or girl in Cleveland or a new Congressman from Youngstown, he had time. He shared his advice, and he shared his counsel. He was such a remarkable man. When you think of the word ``gentleman,'' that was Congressman Lou Stokes. He was a gentle man and, I think, embodied the kind of character we want our young men in Ohio to look up to and aspire to be. I wanted to take a minute here on the House floor to thank him for all he did for me and all he did for Ohio and all he did for this country. He was a great man, and he will be missed.…
