Former Congressman Sonny Montgomery dies

May 12, 2006

Former Congressman Sonny Montgomery dies
# Remembered as America's 'Mr. Veteran'

By Sid Salter
Perspective Editor

MERIDIAN — Gillespie V. “Sonny” Montgomery, who during 30 years in Congress representing east central Mississippi earned the reputation on Capitol Hill as “Mr. Veteran,” died at 4:15 a.m. today at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian of complications from a prior abdominal surgery. He was 85.

Funeral services for Montgomery will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Temple Theater on 22nd Avenue in Meridian. Former President George H.W. Bush is expected to attend, but will not speak at the funeral.

Bo Maske, the former congressman's longtime legislative assistant for military affairs, said Montgomery "died peacefully."

"It was much like one of his favorite figures from history, Gen. Douglas McArthur," Maske said. "It was very much like that, a great old soldier just fading away."

(more)
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060512/NEWS/60512004

Yes he was a Southern conservative Democrat, yes he founded the DC Prayer Breakfast, but he seems to have been a good guy sincerely concerned about vets and effective in helping them.

OT: I wanna be a Perspective Editor!

Edit: removed an ad

He was one of a very Congressmen willing to support Nixon after the Judiciary Committee recommended three articles of impeachment and before the "smoking gun" tape was released, putting the final nail in Nixon's coffin. Even after the release of the tapes, he did not come out in favor of impeachment, as all of Nixon's supporters on the Judiciary Committee did.

:eyes:

He must have known that he was on his way out.

Sonny Montgomery was the author of the Montgomery G.I. Bill that helps our servicemen and women pay for college. He was always an outspoken advocate for members of the armed forces.

May he rest in peace.

This is a positive achievement for which he should be proud and the rest of us thankful.

"The Kissing Congressman" for his habit of kissing female staff members. When the House was forced to take action against two members for the sexual abuse of interns (wouldn't you know, one gay Democrat and one straight Republican were singled out-- surprise, surprise), Mr. Montgomery rushed to the floor to proclaim what a marvelous institution Congress was.

for a long time.

He always gave her Godiva chocolates that he bought at Garfinckle's (a now-defunct, very fancy little store) downtown afterward. She really enjoyed him, and he did all right by her. She's a big lobbyist now.

I should call her.

Or send her some chocolates.

it was very fancy and is now defunct.

but was not a "department store," as the term is commonly employed.

It was more like Gump's, but with incredible women's clothes.

I still miss it.

there as a child when my mother shopped.

it must have looked like a huge place. I trust you're talking about the downtown store, on G Street.

It was really gorgeous.

nice.