[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        PRAISE FOR BILL STOUFFER

                                 ______


                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 17, 1995
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, few of us in this body would achieve much 
success if not for the help of the local officials in the towns and 
cities of our districts which we represent. These local officials are 
often the catalysts behind legislation which reaches both the State and 
Federal levels. Unfortunately, the selfless work of these men and women 
who serve the public at the local level all too often goes 
unrecognized. Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to such a local 
official from my congressional district, who has dedicated his life to 
serving the community in which he lives. The man I am speaking of is 
Mr. Bill Stouffer of Altoona, PA.
  Bill Stouffer has devoted the majority of his life toward serving and 
helping the people around him. He graduated from Altoona High School in 
1940 and immediately answered the call of his country as a U.S. Marine 
Corps combat soldier. He has been noted as one of the first Americans 
to enter Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped. After the war, Bill 
worked for the city of Altoona as an electrical foreman for 18 years, 
earning a reputation amongst his peers as a man of integrity and 
character. This reputation enabled him to seek and win election to the 
Altoona City Council. He served as a city councilman from 1964-71 and 
in doing so distinguished himself as a community leader with a vision 
for a better tomorrow.
  In 1972, Bill Stouffer was elected mayor of the city of Altoona. 
During his tenure as the city's mayor the area reaped the benefits of 
his leadership. Examples of this benefit can be seen in projects such 
as the construction of the 10th Avenue Expressway, the 11th Street 
tower, the water treatment plant, and the expansion of the Penn State 
Altoona campus. these projects and others like them helped to both 
create jobs and improve the quality of life for the people of Altoona.
  In 1980, Bill Stouffer moved on to serve as a Blair County 
commissioner. As commissioner I asked him to chair a local committee to 
help bring the FAA Flight Service Center to the Altoona-Blair County 
Airport. It came as no surprise to me when Bill went after this task 
without hesitation, organizing and mobilizing a group of individuals to 
help make our case to the FAA. Although the Altoona area faced fierce 
competition from other cities including Pittsburgh, we were able to 
obtain the flight service center. This accomplishment would not have 
been possible if not for Bill's tireless work and undying commitment to 
the project.
  Mr. Speaker, recently my good friend and colleague, Bill Stouffer, 
announced that he would not seek reelection to another term as county 
commissioner. While I am sad to see him go, I know that Bill's work 
within the community is far from finished. Bill will move on to become 
more deeply involved in his already extensive work with his church and 
other civic activities such as the Salvation Army, the Altoona Kiwanis, 
and a women's prison ministry which he himself established. In closing, 
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to salute Bill 
Stouffer for his more than 30 years of service to the community which 
he loves, and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.


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