[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 15 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E161-E162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO HERBERT G. PERSIL, A DEDICATED CIVIL SERVANT

                                 ______


                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Herbert G. Persil, the Director of the Office of Budget at the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development. Herb is retiring after 41 
years of Federal service.
  Herb has appeared many times as a witness before the Appropriations 
Subcommittee 

[[Page E162]]
on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies in defense of HUD's budget 
requests. We have always found him to be most knowledgeable and most 
responsive.
  Over the years, he has been of great assistance to the subcommittee 
in its day to day dealings with the Department. We have always valued 
his counsel.
  Herb is, I believe, a truly dedicated civil servant. His high 
standards represent what is best about the civil service.
  Since 1990, Herb has been Director of the Office of Budget. Prior to 
that he served for a number of years as Deputy Director in the Office 
of Budget. He has made countless contributions to efficient and 
effective program management.
  Mr. Persil began his Federal service at the Department of Agriculture 
in 1958. In 1964, Herb moved to HUD's predecessor agency, the Housing 
and Home Finance Agency. In his early years at HUD, Herb helped in the 
development and initial administration of the Model Cities Program. He 
also helped in the development of the first community development 
consolidated grant proposal which later evolved into the community 
development block grant program.
  Mr. Persil's achievements and skills are not only recognized 
throughout HUD, but also in the academic community. As adjunct faculty, 
he teaches courses in public financial management for Golden Gate 
University and the American University. He is a member of the board of 
directors of Public Financial Publications, Inc., which publishes 
Public Budgeting and Finance, jointly sponsored by the American 
Association for Budget and Program Analysis [AABPA] and the American 
Society for Public Administration. He has served as chairman of special 
committees on AABPA and has participated as an expert in numerous panel 
discussions on topics such as training budget staff and managing under 
limited resources. He is also a frequent contributor to professional 
journals.
  I understand that Herb plans to spend his time with his family, 
reading, and traveling. While he claims to be retiring, there are many 
who know that old habits are hard to break and suspect he will continue 
to serve through his teaching, writing, and panels on government 
issues.
  Mr. Speaker, Friday, February 2, 1996, is Herb's last day at HUD. We 
will miss him. I know that you join with me in wishing him and his 
wife, Blythe, a long, happy, and healthy retirement after 41 years of 
distinguished Federal service.

                          ____________________