[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 12083] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN RICHARD A. GEPHARDT OF MISSOURI ______ HON. IKE SKELTON of missouri in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this time to recognize my good friend and our former colleague, Congressman Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, who recently received the Harry S. Truman Award for Public Service from the City of Independence, Missouri. This award is given annually to honor a distinguished public servant who best exemplifies the characteristics of President Harry S. Truman. Congressman Richard Gephardt grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1958 graduated from Southwest High School. He is an Eagle Scout and is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. In 1962, he earned a bachelor of science degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1965. After law school, Congressman Gephardt practiced law and set forth on a distinguished public service career that included serving the American people in military uniform and in elected office. From 1965 to 1971, Congressman Gephardt served in the Missouri Air National Guard. From 1968 to 1971, he served as a Democratic committeeman in St. Louis, and from 1971 to 1976, he served as a St. Louis alderman. In 1976, Gephardt ran for and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. From 1977 to 2005, Congressman Gephardt served the people of Missouri and our country with distinction and quickly became a leader within the Democratic Caucus. In 1984, he was elected chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and was elected House majority leader in 1989. He subsequently served as House minority leader from 1994 to 2005. Gephardt also twice ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination, in 1988 and in 2004. After retiring from Congress in 2005, Gephardt formed a consulting and public policy development firm. Madam Speaker, Congressman Richard A. Gephardt exemplifies the best of American public service. He is so very deserving of the Harry S. Truman Award, and I know my colleagues in the House will join me in congratulating him, his wife, Jane, and their lovely family for their years of dedication to the American people. ____________________