The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF BILL MARDIS
______
HON. HAROLD ROGERS
of kentucky
in the house of representatives
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of my beloved friend, Bill Mardis, who was the long-time editor of the Commonwealth Journal in Somerset, Kentucky.
Though small in stature, Bill Mardis was a journalism giant in Somerset, wielding a mighty pen, a humble approach and a steel-trap mind. We first became friends in the 1970s, with shared roots in radio broadcasting and a zeal for history and politics. Our friendship never swayed Bill from asking tough questions and writing an occasional hard-
hitting piece; still yet we maintained a mutual respect for one another at all times. He was a dearly loved, iconic member of the Lake Cumberland region and his life's work kept all of us more informed. If a story had heart and soul, it was undoubtedly penned by Mardis. His signature ``Humble Reporter'' satire series also provided much-needed comic relief to the serious nature of the daily news covering the rest of the pages. In person, Bill also brought a unique and jovial interview style to every situation, while remaining fair, straight-
forward and balanced through-out his career spanning nearly six decades.
Bill was known for his stellar work ethic, often putting in 12-hour work days to publish an accurate, reputable newspaper. In recent years, our interviews would occasionally linger an hour or more as we drifted off topic and reminisced about our mutual friends and mentors who were instrumental to the growth and progress in southern Kentucky, from the late U.S. Sen. John Sherman Cooper to the late Pulaski Circuit Judge Roscoe Tartar, and others. He kept a tight grip on the political pulse of the Lake Cumberland region, cultivating a trusted network of friends across party lines, lending to his rich, in-depth reporting.
May his legacy of balanced and fair journalism live on at the Commonwealth Journal where he dedicated nearly 60 years with the utmost integrity. My wife Cynthia and I send our heartfelt condolences to Bill's family, his coworkers at the newspaper, and his expansive community of friends. In the words of our satirical Humble Reporter,
``I ain't never seed nothin' lak hit'' and I don't suspect we ever will again.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 21(1), Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 21(2)
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