Honoring Mr. David Hawpe

HONORING MR. DAVID HAWPE

______

HON. BEN CHANDLER

of kentucky

in the house of representatives

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Mr. CHANDLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of one of Kentucky's premier journalists, a man who has shaped countless events and policies in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for decades, Mr. David Hawpe. After 40 years of public service journalism, tough reporting, and insightful analysis as editorial director, he will retire on August 14, 2009. I cannot begin to adequately describe the immeasurable contributions Mr. Hawpe has made to better the lives of all Kentuckians. After graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1965 with a focus in journalism, Mr. Hawpe began his career as a reporter for the Associated Press and then moved to the The St. Petersburg Times in Florida, where he was an editorial writer. In 1969, he came back to his home state and took charge of the Hazard bureau of The Courier-Journal in Eastern Kentucky, and in 1972, he moved to the Louisville home office. Mr. Hawpe held many positions, including editorial writer, assistant regional editor, managing editor and editor of The Courier-Journal and also served as city editor of the former afternoon newspaper, The Louisville Times. Through his decades of reporting, Mr. Hawpe's influence can be seen in nearly every corner of the state. He covered the Hyden mine disaster in 1970, bringing to light the many hazards and realities of coal mining. In later years, he played a significant role in strengthening laws and regulations governing the mining industry, and attacked abuses related to the broad form deed and strip mining. Through his reporting and advocacy, he helped bring about new regulations of toxic chemicals, improved school bus safety, better enforcement of drunk driving laws, and reform in the medical license system. Through his and his colleagues' legislative coverage, Mr. Hawpe and his coworkers literally helped reshape the Kentucky General Assembly-- my home state's legislative body--into a more influential, co-equal branch of state government. In conjunction with formidable investigative reporting, Mr. Hawpe also played a critical role in the momentum to rewrite Kentucky's campaign finance laws. And also, very notably, Mr. Hawpe has been instrumental in the reform of Kentucky's public education system. Through his direction of relentless and informed reporting, he helped convince the public that Kentucky was in need of meaningful, extensive higher education reform, which paved the way for the 1997 Kentucky Higher Education Reform Act. He has been credited by many, including a former governor and key policy makers, with being the main force behind this historic legislation. In light of these achievements, it should be no surprise the newspaper won four Pulitzer prizes under his direction. Mr. Hawpe is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and has long been a strong advocate for ethics and diversity initiatives. A Nieman Fellow at Harvard, he was also prominent in national news organizations, having served as president of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association. Through Mr. Hawpe's editorials and columns, he has been called "the voice and conscience of The Courier-Journal" and, in my opinion, in many ways, he has been the voice and conscience of reform and good policy in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Over the years, he has held individuals and institutions accountable for their actions, reined in unfair practices, and been an unwavering advocate for the underprivileged. Mr. Hawpe will be sorely missed, but the impact of his work will be felt in my state, and, indeed the nation, for many years to come. Madam Speaker, there is no doubt in my mind that he has made our great state even better.