Remarks by Representative Sullivan

Of Missouri

Mrs. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the death of our able and beloved friend and colleague, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER, Who worked so hard for the people of America, and especially for the farmers of our country. My profound sympathy goes to his family in the loss of a wonderful father.

I believe all of us were struck and impressed by the unfailing good humor, the kindness, the friendliness of this fine man. Adversity never dimmed the warmth of his smile and the genuineness of the affection he held for his many friends.

When Congressman CHRISTOPHER took the floor of the House to discuss important issues of national policy, he enlivened his informative talks with a leavening of humor which reminded us all of Abraham Lincoln, in the ability to illustrate a serious point with an appropriate light touch.

The people of the Fourth District of Missouri have lost an outstanding public servant, a conscientious representative of their interests in the Congress of the United States. All of us in the House of Representatives have lost a friend—and an inspiring personality who believed our laws were intended and should be intended to make this a better country for every individual. It was in that spirit that he served in the House. It was in that spirit that he earned our friendship and admiration.

Remarks by Representative Morris

Of Oklahoma

Mr. MORRIS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was truly a great man. He had a keen and penetrating mind, a big heart, and, until ill health overtook him, a great physique. He was what we usually affectionately referred to as a real dirt farmer Member of this body. He had a profound knowledge of agricultural matters as they applied to the lawmaking phase, and an intimate, expert knowledge, gleaned over a period of years, of the actual operation of agricultural legislation, because he actually tilled the soil. When questions arose concerning bills involving agriculture and I needed advice, I always searched out my friend GEORGE CHRISTOPHER and consulted with him. I found his views to be sound and him to be possessed of unusually good information in regard to this particular subject matter.

It has been said, Mr. Speaker, that—

The noblest men that live on earth

Are those whose hands are brown with toil;

Who, backed by no ancestral graves,

Hew down the woods and till the soil;

And win thereby a grander name

Than follows kings, or warriors fame.

Our departed beloved colleague contributed greatly to the community in which he lived, to his great State, and to this Nation of ours through his long experience as a tiller of the soil and by reason of his outstanding service here in this House.

May I say in conclusion that, as others have said, he did not confine himself just to agricultural matters alone, but

had a deep sympathy and an understanding for all people who labor, as a matter of fact, for humanity generally.

We have lost a sage; we have lost a noble, courageous soul in the passing of GEORGE CHRISTOPHER.

To his loved ones I wish to say, may God comfort you in this, your sad hour.

Remarks by Representative Hull

Of Missouri

Mr. HULL. Mr. Speaker, today we mourn the passing of a kindly man.

The Honorable GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, Representative of the Fourth District of Missouri, was one of the best loved and most respected Members of the Congress of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, we will remember GEORGE as an able and dedicated public servant. We will remember him as a champion of the American farmer, of the American war veteran, and of less fortunate members of American society. But transcending these memories, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER will always present himself to our recollections as a buoyant, cheerful man whose friendliness and good will never deserted him, even in his later days of physical discomfort.

As members of Missouri's congressional delegation, and as Representatives of adjoining districts, GEORGE and I worked closely together and we enjoyed a warm friendship.

I knew him as a man of great ability and of the highest attributes of Christian character. He never passed an opportunity to say a friendly word or extend a helping hand to new or old acquaintances, of high station or low.

He was a great family man and spoke often to his close friends of his fine family of seven sons and two daughters. GEORGE was immensely proud of them and we share with his children their profound sorrow.

GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was a dirt farmer and proud of it. He fought all of his life for proper utilization and protection of our greatest natural resource, our land. He loved our land with the passion of all who have worked it with our hands.

His obituary notice in the Washington Post and Times Herald carried the headline, "Representative CHRISTOPHER, a Missouri Farmer." That is a proud epitaph; GEORGE would have liked it.

Remarks by Representative Chenoweth

Of Colorado

Mr. CHENOWETH. Mr. Speaker, I was greatly shocked and saddened when I heard of the untimely passing of GEORGE CHRISTOPHER. I extend my sincere sympathy to my colleagues from Missouri in their great loss. I join all of my colleagues in paying tribute to his memory.

I was very fond of GEORGE CHRISTOPHER. I cannot imagine anyone who did not like GEORGE. I never met him but what he had a friendly smile and a word of good cheer. No matter what his physical condition may have been, GEORGE was always of the same happy disposition. I was proud to have him as a friend.

I was delighted to see GEORGE looking so well when he returned for the new session of Congress. We had a very pleasant visit when the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee met for the first time. I greatly enjoyed serving on this committee with GEORGE in past years. He seemed to be in the best spirits in greeting his old friends on the committee.

During the last session I was worried over GEORGE in view of his operation and extended illness. When I saw him last week I came to the conclusion that he had recovered his strength and would resume his normal activities in this session of Congress.

The passing of GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was a great loss not only to his district and the State of Missouri but the entire Nation. He was an independent and fearless Member of this House. We had many friendly visits, and while he was a