A Final Salute to Sonny
By Brother Rogers
The passing of Gillespie V. “Sonny” Montgomery marks the end of the life of a legendary figure in Mississippi politics. All students of Mississippi history should be required to watch or read the moving tributes to Sonny from his funeral in Meridian last Tuesday.
Sonny’s public service career spanned 10 years in the Mississippi Senate and 30 years in the United States Congress. “In all those years, no one questioned his integrity or his independence,” said U.S. Senator Trent Lott, who presided at the funeral ceremony.
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, his voice cracking with emotion and affection, noted that Sonny was the most popular and well-liked Member of Congress. He also said, “All Americans are deeply indebted to Sonny Montgomery for making this the great country that it is today.”
For his steady determination to expand and modernize the GI Bill to offer educational opportunities to National Guard and Reserve personnel, Sonny was praised for seeking benefits commensurate with their sacrifice. Sonny earned the nicknames Mr. Veteran and Mr. National Guard.
Sonny also achieved his goal to elevate veterans’ affairs to the presidential cabinet level. The current Secretary of Veterans Affairs called Sonny “the greatest advocate for men and women in uniform.” He added that over 2 million men and women have benefited from the Montgomery GI Bill.
Sonny loved those in the military and those in his hometown of Meridian. But he also loved Starkville and Mississippi State University. His great grandfather was instrumental in the selection of Starkville as the location of Mississippi A&M. I think about his roots here when I cross the intersection of Montgomery and Gillespie streets. I recall my grandmother working with Sonny to save Montgomery Hall from demolition.
A former student body president and basketball player, Sonny was one of MSU’s most avid fans and greatest ambassadors. One of my favorite pictures is one of Sonny with President George H.W. Bush in MSU athletic apparel.
If you missed the funeral, you would have been very proud of MSU’s new president, Robert “Doc” Foglesong, who without any notes delivered an emotionally stirring tribute to “Dawg One.”
I am one of the thousands whose life was touched by Sonny Montgomery. Before I attended a school of public affairs or began my 17-year career in public service, Congressman Montgomery gave me my first public service job as an intern for the Veterans Affairs Committee. He did the same for countless others.
No one could be around Sonny and not love his infectious smile and genuine warmth. And Sonny loved. Congressman Chip Pickering pointed out that Sonny loved his family, his friends, his university, his country and his God.
Undersecretary of the Army Pete Geren used the parliamentary language of the House of Representatives to summarize the sentiments of us all when he said simply, “The gentleman from Mississippi is recognized...forever in our hearts.”
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.
The passing of Gillespie V. “Sonny” Montgomery marks the end of the life of a legendary figure in Mississippi politics. All students of Mississippi history should be required to watch or read the moving tributes to Sonny from his funeral in Meridian last Tuesday.
Sonny’s public service career spanned 10 years in the Mississippi Senate and 30 years in the United States Congress. “In all those years, no one questioned his integrity or his independence,” said U.S. Senator Trent Lott, who presided at the funeral ceremony.
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, his voice cracking with emotion and affection, noted that Sonny was the most popular and well-liked Member of Congress. He also said, “All Americans are deeply indebted to Sonny Montgomery for making this the great country that it is today.”
For his steady determination to expand and modernize the GI Bill to offer educational opportunities to National Guard and Reserve personnel, Sonny was praised for seeking benefits commensurate with their sacrifice. Sonny earned the nicknames Mr. Veteran and Mr. National Guard.
Sonny also achieved his goal to elevate veterans’ affairs to the presidential cabinet level. The current Secretary of Veterans Affairs called Sonny “the greatest advocate for men and women in uniform.” He added that over 2 million men and women have benefited from the Montgomery GI Bill.
Sonny loved those in the military and those in his hometown of Meridian. But he also loved Starkville and Mississippi State University. His great grandfather was instrumental in the selection of Starkville as the location of Mississippi A&M. I think about his roots here when I cross the intersection of Montgomery and Gillespie streets. I recall my grandmother working with Sonny to save Montgomery Hall from demolition.
A former student body president and basketball player, Sonny was one of MSU’s most avid fans and greatest ambassadors. One of my favorite pictures is one of Sonny with President George H.W. Bush in MSU athletic apparel.
If you missed the funeral, you would have been very proud of MSU’s new president, Robert “Doc” Foglesong, who without any notes delivered an emotionally stirring tribute to “Dawg One.”
I am one of the thousands whose life was touched by Sonny Montgomery. Before I attended a school of public affairs or began my 17-year career in public service, Congressman Montgomery gave me my first public service job as an intern for the Veterans Affairs Committee. He did the same for countless others.
No one could be around Sonny and not love his infectious smile and genuine warmth. And Sonny loved. Congressman Chip Pickering pointed out that Sonny loved his family, his friends, his university, his country and his God.
Undersecretary of the Army Pete Geren used the parliamentary language of the House of Representatives to summarize the sentiments of us all when he said simply, “The gentleman from Mississippi is recognized...forever in our hearts.”
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.