[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 99 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MR. W.C. HELVESTON

                                 ______


                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 16, 1995

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to pay special tribute to 
a man who has for years been a dedicated and faithful public servant in 
Mobile County, AL. This gentleman is only the second person to have 
served as administrator of Alabama's second largest county in more than 
70 years, and is owed an enormous debt of gratitude by the people of 
that area. Mr. Speaker, it is for this reason that I, on behalf of the 
citizens of Mobile County, recognize Mr. W.C. Helveston.
  Mr. Helveston was educated in the Mobile County public school system. 
He then went on to attend the University of Alabama and Spring Hill 
College, graduating with a degree in business administration. Mr. 
Helveston worked for a period of time with the Louisville and Nashville 
Railroad before becoming an administrative assistant with the Mobile 
City Commission in 1961. It was 10 years later that W.C. Helveston made 
his entrance into local government as the administrator of Mobile 
County.
  During his tenure in this office, Mobile County has flourished beyond 
expectation, and Mr. Helveston has made a very important contribution 
to this growth. He has seen the county's general fund budget go from $4 
million in the early seventies to more than $104 million today. He has 
overseen a highway construction program that is one of the largest and 
best in our State. In addition, through untiring efforts with the U.S. 
marshall service, Mr. Helveston secured $1 million in Federal funds for 
the construction of the Metro Jail.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on for hours listing W.C. Helveston's various 
accomplishments and contributions to Mobile County. However, it is his 
undying commitment to make county government professional and 
responsive to the people that has been his greatest gift to the people 
of this county.
  Mr. Helveston's commitment to Mobile County has always reached far 
beyond his position as administrator. At a time when many find it 
difficult to make time to give something back to the community, W.C. 
Helveston has been an outstanding exception. One of his most notable 
areas of community involvement has been with the Mobile County Mental 
Health Association, where he served on the executive board. The 
gentleman is a civil servant in the truest sense.
  Oftentimes, many in this great Nation are eager to point the finger 
of blame or find fault with our leaders. Rarely do we take the 
opportunity to recognize the dedicated and faithful public service of 
many of our officials. It is for this reason that I take such great 
pleasure in honoring one such outstanding individual, W.C. Helveston, 
for all he has given to the citizens of Mobile County, AL.

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