[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 20 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              FRANCIS FRANCOIS, A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 1999

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the retirement of 
Francis B. Francois; Executive Director of the American Association of 
State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
  Mr. Francois will retire in February after 19 years with AASHTO. In 
addition, during his tenure he also served on the Executive Committee 
of the Transportation Research Board.
  Francis Francois was born and raised on an Iowa farm and earned an 
engineering degree at Iowa State University and then went on to earn a 
law degree at the George Washington University. A registered patent 
attorney, Mr. Francois resides in Bowie, MD with his wife Eileen where 
they have raised five children.
  Known as a skilled parliamentarian, Mr. Francois served 18 years as 
an elected official in Prince George's County including nine as a 
County Councilman. While serving the County, Mr. Francois was a member 
of many boards and associations including the National Association of 
Counties and the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Area 
Transit Authority. Having the vision for a regional approach to solving 
problems, he earned the reputation of being ``Mr. Goodwrench'' and 
``Mr. Fixit.''
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Francois is a person dedicated to solving problems, 
serving people and setting plans in motion. In 1973, Mr. Francois was 
named ``Washingtonian of the Year'' by the Washingtonian magazine. He 
is also well published on such topics as the important role of counties 
in state government, urban water resources and the responsibility of 
regional decisionmaking.
  Mr. Francois will be missed by AASHTO as well as the people of Prince 
George's County. Mr. Francois has the vision of an all-purpose 
reformer. I know my colleagues will join with me in congratulating 
Francis Francois and his family on his retirement and wishing them all 
the best as Mr. Francois enters what we all hope will be his most 
exciting adventures to date.

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