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[Page S2376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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REMEMBERING FRED KELLY GRANT
Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, today I honor Fred Kelly Grant. In
March, our Nation unfortunately lost a reasoned, dedicated, and
outstanding advocate for locally driven decision-making. However, Fred
leaves a lasting remembrance in the extraordinarily positive impact he
had on so many people.
Fred, who was born in South Carolina and grew up in Idaho, earned a
degree in history at the College of Idaho before earning his law degree
at the University of Chicago Law School. His early career included
serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Baltimore from 1963-1965. He
then served as Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore City, where he
was appointed chief of the organized crime division. He then practiced
criminal law in private practice before returning to Idaho and serving
as counsel for two former Idaho Governors, Cecil Andrus and John Evans.
He also served as law clerk for Judge Edward J. Lodge from 1975-1980,
and he provided legal, political assistance to local governments,
businesses, and individuals throughout his career. Further, Fred served
on multiple commissions, authored books, and led organizations. This
includes him helping to start the Stand and Fight Club focused on
preventing regulatory agencies from doing economic harm to rural
America.
Countless people all around the country were influenced and helped by
Fred. Fred was a long-time Idaho lawyer, but his influence and know-how
reached far beyond our Idaho borders. In a 2017 Washington Times
Article, Fred was aptly characterized as an ``unsung hero of rural
America.'' He gave needed weight to requiring the Federal Government to
coordinate with localities when implementing new rules. He emphasized
local policy and local plans as drivers of the economy. Fred championed
this effort in Idaho and nationally, extending important information
and experience to other local governments across the nation. In so
doing, he advanced the ideal of those closest to the land rightly
driving natural resources and environmental solutions.
This emphasis on locally driven, collaborative land management
decisions was the central focus of the Owyhee Initiative. Fred
masterfully provided local leadership at a critical time in the
history--and future--of Owyhee County. The Owyhee Initiative, ushered
into law through the hard work and strength of purpose of Fred and
other Owyhee Initiative partners, maintains a thoughtful balance of
multiple uses required for the betterment of an amazing part of our
great state and country. The collaborative efforts furthered in the
Owyhee Initiative remain an example of the great achievements that are
possible when we all come to the table and work through the differences
to find the common ground.
My staff and I knew him best during the many years of sustained
effort on the Owyhee Initiative, yet we are aware that his life reached
many people well beyond that important work. Many have shared messages
describing Fred. The tributes share words in common: perseverance,
remarkable intelligence, created lasting friendships, wisdom, deeply
caring, empathetic, perceptive, quick wit, and love. All of these
characteristics and more are but a start in describing Fred.
For me, perhaps the sense of personal respect and understanding I had
for Fred are what seem most powerful. The previously mentioned
Washington Times article from three years ago, included a quote from
Fred stating, ``I'm tempted all the time to retire . . . But, I truly
believe in this nation and I think there are too few people who
understand and believe in the core principle of the federal republic,
and if we lose that, I believe we lose what makes the Constitution the
most perfect instrument of government that's ever been created.'' He
lived this and left a lasting charge for all of us never to let up in
smartly pushing back against Federal supersession of local decision-
making. I extend my deepest sympathy to Fred's widow, Carol, and all of
Fred's family and friends. We all miss Fred and are grateful for his
life, legacy and friendship.
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