[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LT. COL. BILL SIMMONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 1997

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Col. Bill Simmons 
for his extraordinary dedication to the defense of our Nation and our 
community.
  Bill has moved throughout the ranks of the Marine Corps in a short 
period of time. In 1976 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant 
following graduation from the Naval ROTC Program at Iowa State 
University. Because of his distinguished and exceptional service he was 
soon promoted to company commander.
  The words ``promoted because of exceptional service'' have followed 
Bill throughout his career. Therefore, today I call upon my 
distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring Bill for his 
exceptional service and congratulate him on his promotion to the Marine 
Corps Office of Legislative Affairs.
  Bill is not honored here today solely for his service to the Marine 
Corps. He is also a distinguished community servant and a loving family 
man. Bill had developed, organized and implemented a drug intervention 
program in our community schools. This program sponsors dialogue 
between both students and their mentors truly convincing these students 
not to use drugs. Bill has also organized more than 200 Color Guards, 
the 1996 Taste of Encino Race and sponsored the Toys for Tots Program. 
All the while, Bill was tending to his duties as a battalion officer, 
father, and husband.
  If I had to choose one phrase to describe Bill I would say he ``can 
do''. He has served to maintain relations between the people of our 
community and has served organizations such as the Encino Chamber of 
Commerce and the Van Nuys Police Department. His ability to ensure that 
everyone's interests and ideas are properly represented has enabled him 
to move throughout the ranks of the military and serve those in our 
community.
  I join the family and friends of Lt. Col. Bill Simmons and citizens 
of Encino in honoring Bill today for his distinguished service to our 
community.

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