[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 MOURNING THE LOSS OF COMMUNITY LEADER AND FORMER TEMPLE MAYOR WILLIAM 
                           ``BILL'' COURTNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 17, 1998

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with members my 
memories of William R. ``Bill'' Courtney, a community leader in my 11th 
Texas Congressional District who recently passed away.
  William Courtney, a former mayor of Temple and a special friend of 
mine, died July 3 at his home following a brief illness. Bill Courtney 
was a highly esteemed citizen, a man who earned the respect and 
admiration of those in political, civic, and religious circles. I want 
to share with the Members his many accomplishments and invaluable 
service to his community.
  Bill Courtney was descended from a pioneer Central Texas family. He 
never forgot his Central Texas roots and his family and community 
always came first.
  He served as mayor of Temple from 1976 to 1980. During those two 
terms as mayor he implemented a single-member district election system 
in Temple. He served as a member of the State Democratic Executive 
Committee and his political and legal counsel were much sought after.
  Bill Courtney was a leading attorney in Bell County for 48 years. He 
was a senior partner in the law firm of Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee. He 
was an expert on real estate financing and belonged to many 
professional organizations including the American College of Mortgage 
Attorneys where he served as board member and president. In addition, 
he was a member of the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar 
Association, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the Bell-Lampasas-Mills 
Counties Bar Association.
  He attended Temple public schools and Temple Junior College. He 
earned his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1948 and 
his law degree from the University of Texas Law School in 1950. Bill 
Courtney was a World War II veteran and served as a 10th Mountain 
Division infantry officer fighting in Italy.
  He was a member of the Episcopal Church of Temple and served three 
terms as Vestryman and two terms as Senior Warden.
  Bill Courtney viewed his community involvement as a sacred duty and a 
cherished honor. He served as a trustee of the Scott and White Memorial 
Hospital, president of the Temple Industrial Foundation, and chairman 
of the Temple Economic Development Corporation. He was a past vice 
president and director of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, and past 
president of the Central Texas Council of Governments, and the Cultural 
Activities Center.
  He and his wife, Shirley, donated land for the Temple Ronald McDonald 
House. Recently, they donated more land to expand the house to provide 
more space for families to stay while loved ones are treated at the 
nearby hospital.
  Up until the time that he passed away, Bill Courtney continued to 
work for his community. Last year he used the skill and expertise 
accumulated during three-quarters of a century to help bring a new 
Texas Veterans Nursing Home to Temple.
  Within days of his death, Bill and I were actively working together 
to try to keep the state USDA offices in Temple. It does not surprise 
me that even in his last days on this earth, Bill Courtney was doing 
what he did his entire life--helping others.
  Mr. Speaker, Winston Churchill once said, ``We make a living by what 
we get, but we make a life by what we give.'' Judged by that high 
standard, my dear friend, Bill Courtney lived life to its fullest.
  His family and many friends will dearly miss Bill Courtney, but his 
spirit of caring for others will live on in all of us who were touched 
by his extraordinary life of service.
  I ask Members to join with me in honoring the memory of Bill 
Courtney. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Shirley, his three sons, 
John Patrick, Joseph Sayles and David William and the rest of his 
family and friends.

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