[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM K. VAN PELT

                                 ______


                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 10, 1995
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to former U.S. 
Representative William K. Van Pelt of Fond du Lac, WI, on the occasion 
of his 90th birthday today.
  A popular Member of Congress who was known for his quiet common sense 
and integrity, Bill served Wisconsin's Sixth District from 1951 through 
1964, winning seven consecutive terms with little serious opposition.
  Respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Bill was proud of 
his record of service to his constituents and of his committee work. 
When he left office, Bill was the second ranking Republican member of 
the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, which handled all 
conservation issues coming before the House. He was also a senior 
member of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, whose jurisdiction 
included policymaking and oversight of various facets of America's 
evolving space program.
  Bill's first term in Congress came after he won an upset victory in a 
four-way Republican primary in 1950 in his first bid for public office. 
Before that time, Bill was in business for himself as owner and 
operator of City Fuel Co. of Fond du Lac and was an active participant 
in Republican Party politics on the local level, serving as chairman of 
the Fond du Lac County Republican Party from 1944 to 1950.
  Throughout his tenure of office, Bill remained true to his roots as a 
businessman and advocate of Republican Party principles. He was a 
strong believer in the free enterprise system and in the need for a 
limited Federal Government dedicated to fiscal responsibility and a 
balanced Federal budget. He was not afraid to take unpopular stands, 
and was called on the carpet by his political opponents for daring to 
question the expenditure of Federal conservation dollars on a Wisconsin 
project he and many others deemed to be of dubious value.
  In 1964, Bill Van Pelt was quoted as saying, ``The Federal Government 
does not have to be a partner in a program to ensure its ultimate 
success.'' Thirty years later, I think Bill would have felt right at 
home in the current congressional climate, working to advance the 
tenets of the Contract With America.
  Bill would probably be less comfortable, however, with the prevailing 
practices of political campaigning. A gentleman known for his 
unpretentious manner and low-key sense of humor, Bill prided himself on 
conducting campaigns free of personal attacks and disparagement. ``I 
might say that I don't indulge in personalities,'' he said. ``Never in 
eight campaigns have I felt it necessary to go to name-calling.''
  On this his 90th birthday, I want to congratulate Bill Van Pelt and 
to wish him continued health and happiness. In addition, on behalf of 
the people of the Sixth Congressional District, I want to thank him for 
his 14 years of service in the House of Representatives and for his 
legacy of integrity and commonsense leadership.


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