The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MARK KELLAM
______
HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 7, 2022
Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of a constituent of mine, Mark Kellam, who passed away on September 27, 2022. Mark was one of my district's preeminent newsmen--a veteran chronicler and good government watchdog, but most importantly, a neighbor, mentor and friend who fiercely loved his community and was deeply kind.
Mark was born in New Castle, Indiana, to the late Josephine and James Kellam, and from the very beginning appeared destined for a career in storytelling. At Tri Junior Senior High School, he excelled in just about every expression of the narrative form: as a theater kid, a prizewinning speech competitor, and editor of the yearbook. While his talents and passions varied widely, his callings ultimately coalesced around a bachelor's degree in journalism, which he obtained from Indiana University in 1984.
After more than a decade of reporting for his hometown paper and throughout the Midwest, Mark's yearning for adventure drew him westward to Chino, California. It was in California that Mark met the love of his life, Jeffrey Waack, and in 2004 Mark moved to West Hollywood to be with him. This cultural capital in my district was the setting for their many beautiful years together, including spending time in landmark establishments like Micky's, the Revolver Video Bar, and Basix. The latter is where Mark proposed to Jeff, and as soon as same-
sex marriage became legal in California in 2008, they were wed at Kings Road Park.
As a new Angeleno, Mark quickly rose through the ranks of esteemed local publications like the Los Angeles Daily News and the Los Angeles Times Community News, where he was the city editor for the Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader leading a team of reporters and editors, and mentoring many young staff who came through its doors. Most recently, he took the helm locally for the Outlook News Group. It was during these times that I got to know and talk with Mark often, and came to appreciate the intense kindness and heart he applied to his craft. Journalism--especially local journalism--is a hard business, but Mark made it seem effortless despite the hours he spent behind the scenes bringing countless stories to life.
Though his journalism career was legendary, so too were his pursuits of those many talents and passions acquired in his youth. Mark was a renowned karaoke singer, a longtime member of the L.A. Wranglers country dance group, and a wonderful playwright whose work was produced in New York, Dayton, and Indianapolis. He loved cats, the ocean, and traveling with Jeff and their friends.
Mark's legacy will live on through his masterful stories, as well as those of the many young reporters he mentored over the years. And it will live on through all those whose lives he touched with his unwavering warmth, humor, and heart.
Madam Speaker, I ask all Members to join me in offering my sincerest condolences to Mark's husband, Jeff, and his loving family, friends, and readers across my district, and in remembering Mark Kellam for his service to West Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank, Los Angeles, and beyond.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 161(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 161(2)
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