TRIBUTE TO REX PETTY

On 2026-05-20, Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO REX PETTY" in the Senate.

TRIBUTE TO REX PETTY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 86 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2386] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO REX PETTY Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Pastor Rex Petty for devoting decades of his life to serving the people of Liberal, KS, as pastor of Faith Tabernacle Church and to congratulate him upon his retirement. He started there as an associate pastor in 1984. Rex soon stepped into the role of interim pastor, and the congregation voted to keep Rex on to continue leading the church. Recently, Rex celebrated an incredible milestone with his congregation: 40 years of ministry at Faith Tabernacle Church. Delvin Kinser, the news director for Great Plains Christian Radio, said of Rex: He is more than a local minister devoted to his own congregation. For decades, he has made the entirety of Liberal, Kansas, his mission field. Pastors have come and gone, but Rex has been a constant source of spiritual leadership [in] his hometown. His retirement leaves a tremendous void, but those who know him have little doubt that he made the spiritual fabric of [this] community stronger than it otherwise would have been without him. Always cheerful, always positive, always about Jesus! That is Rex Petty! Rex's passion for service extends far into the Liberal community. He has been an involved member of the Liberal Ministerial Alliance, an organization that brings local churches together to care for the needs of the community. He is eager to minister to others, and he has often brought former NFL players to Liberal to share inspirational messages with students in southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Rex also served as the coordinator for the local Liberal High School Baccalaureate. An avid sports fan, he can regularly be seen cheering in the stands at many local youth sporting events. In a recent interview with the local paper, the Leader and Times, Rex said--this is Rex saying: Maybe we don't have the highest mountains or a lot of the lakes and streams and all that beauty other places have, but [what] we have [is] the people. And that's been the most wonderful thing about Liberal. Rex is civic-minded. He takes pride in his community. He can often be found leading prayers before local government meetings. He was instrumental in creating the city's slogan: ``From Generosity to Prosperity.'' In this life of service of 40 years, he touched countless lives. Here are a couple of comments that others have made. Rozelle Webb is the CEO of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, and she says: Rex Petty has been a very ``Liberal'' pastor. He has given his time and [his] heart, not only to his church and congregation, but to everyone in our town. We will miss his sincere love for Liberal. Kansas State Representative Shannon Francis says: Congratulations to my classmate-- Rex is a high school graduate of Liberal High School. Congratulations to my classmate, Rex Petty, on his retirement. Rex is what makes rural America great. Rex is a hometown boy who returned home after college and has spent 40 years ministering to his friends, family and community members. His quiet, moral leadership has always been a source of calm and comfort for our community. We will miss him. I would like to recognize an additional person, a person besides Rex. It is the person who supported Rex, and like him, is a cherished member of the Liberal community, his wife Eydie. She is committed to serving and investing in the life of others, including serving as a teacher in the Liberal Public Schools. This summer, Rex and Eydie will celebrate 42 years of marriage. Together, they are passionate about helping others, and they can always be found volunteering for Liberal's Pancake Day and all other good causes. They passed their desire to serve on to their family, and their son Reid works on my staff as a district representative serving the people of Kansas. When I am in town, Rex will always meet me with a warm smile and a steady handshake. He has set a remarkable example of service and legacy that will not--will not--be forgotten. Earl Watt, the publisher of the Leader & Times summed it up pretty well by saying: Thank you, Rex Petty, for being Liberal's Pastor. I congratulate him. In fact, I congratulate them, Rex and Eydie, for their service to Kansans, and I wish them the best as they enter this new chapter. I believe the world is changed one soul at a time. Reverend Petty committed his life to serving Jesus Christ. In that service he touched many lives loving his neighbor as himself. Rex Petty, a role model for us all. I yield the floor. ____________________