Former Congressman Sonny Montgomery dies

[Bossy Monkey]

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