[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING BILL PENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL BAKER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 1996

  Mr. BAKER of California. Mr. Speaker, according to the 19th century 
French physiologist Claude Bernard, ``The true worth of a researcher 
lies in pursuing what he did not seek in his experiment as well as what 
he sought.'' In other words, the true scientist seeks truth where he 
finds it, and does so diligently and doggedly.
  That's a mission that has been fulfilled ably by Bill Pence, who has 
taught science in the San Ramon Unified School District for 20 years. 
Bill has been named 1 of 100 teachers nationwide to receive the Tandy 
Technology Award for his outstanding service to his students and to our 
country.
  Bill has poured his life, his energy, and thousands of his own 
dollars into making sure his high school laboratory stays on the 
leading edge of research and technology. Moreover, he has actively 
sought help from the private sector, soliciting everything from 
personal computers to a thermocycler in order to facilitate the calibre 
of research he knows is vital to true scientific education.
  In 1994, two of Bill's students gained national headlines when they 
discovered human genes that may be linked to cancer. The students, Yu 
Fong Hong and Li Ho, found this new data in a classroom experiment--an 
experiment made possible because of the dedication of Bill Pence.
  It is with great pride and pleasure that I ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring Bill Pence's commitment to the young people of my home 
district in the East Bay region of San Francisco and thank him for 
representing the best in American education. The future is brighter for 
thousands of young people because of Bill's work, and he merits our 
gratitude for all he has done for tomorrow's leaders.

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