This is not an official government website.
© 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions members such as Shelley Moore Capito.
Issued
September 23, 2026
senate side of the record
People
1
Linked members mentioned in this section
Legislation
0
No linked legislation in this section
Committees
0
No linked committees in this section
Senate Holds
0
No hold activity linked here
Source Document
Connected Data
People mentioned
Source Control
Reader mode is for comprehension. The linked government PDF is the official published source.
Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMrs. CAPITO. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to John Tuggle, executive director of Region 4 Planning and Development Council, who departed this Earth suddenly on the evening of September 18, 2026, much to the sorrow of myself, his family and friends, the community he called home, and the many people across the State that he mentored, encouraged, and supported throughout all of their endeavors.
development councils, which are responsible for administering and facilitating Federal and State funding for local and regional projects including water, wastewater, transportation, broadband deployment, workforce development, housing, healthcare, and tourism, among other priorities. These councils are the unsung heroes of infrastructure in our State. Most West Virginians do not even know they exist. Their work is not publicized; they do not seek attention or expect praise. They do it because they love their communities and want to create a better quality of life for their neighbors.
and Webster Counties—five rural counties in our State that are among the most beautiful and scenic places we have to offer. Each of these counties have unique challenges that make public infrastructure costly and difficult. But no challenge was too daunting for John and his team of project specialists, financial managers, and GIS coordinators. If you have ever spent time around John and the staff of Region 4, you know they are more than colleagues; they are family. My heart is with them during this difficult time.
to work with John and his team, and I can say without hesitation that they are the very best. So often, elected officials get all the credit when Federal or State dollars get handed down to communities for projects. It is our names written in the headlines, but truly nothing can be accomplished without the boots on the ground required to submit applications, manage projects, and make them a reality. John was the epitome of boots on the ground, the one who built trust and made things happen, and we certainly have big shoes to fill with his passing.
Most importantly, John was a family man and dedicated Christian. He was a loving husband, father, foster parent, mentor, neighbor, and friend. He was an active member of the United Methodist Temple in Beckley, WV, and a volunteer for the Annual Community Thanksgiving meal in his hometown of Oak Hill, where he was one of the first to arrive and one of the last to the leave while serving free hot meals to thousands of his neighbors. When the June 2016 floods struck much of John's region, he was instrumental in the recovery efforts, restoring vital infrastructure to communities and working with volunteer organizations to help rebuild the homes and lives of those impacted. John and his wife Romona were proud foster parents and remained in their children's lives even after they left his family's care.
John Tuggle was the best of us. He was a gentle giant. Yes, he was impossible to miss even in a crowded room, but it was his warmth, kindness, knowledge, and commitment to helping others that made him larger than life. His spirit lives on through the many projects and people he helped shape. Charlie and I join countless others across West Virginia in prayer for his wife Romona, his family, and many friends.