[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1388-E1389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN TRIBUTE TO BILLY K. HIGGINS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 1999

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to a gentleman I 
met in my early days in Washington in the 1970's at the Department of 
the Interior, and whose path I again crossed when I came to Congress.
  Billy K. Higgins has worked for more than 25 years to advance our 
nation's transportation system, first as a congressional liaison 
officer for the Federal Highway Administration, and since 1977 as the 
governmental relations director of the American Association of State 
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). He has also worked for 
the Republican National Committee, and the Standard Oil Company of 
Indiana, now Amoco Oil Company.
  But for the past 22 years he has represented the state departments of 
transportation through a period of tremendous change, as the 
construction of the Interstate system was completed, as the focus of 
federal transportation interests broadened, and as the world became 
increasingly dependent on the economic lifeline transportation 
provides.
  He has guided AASHTO through five reauthorizations of the federal-aid 
highway and transit program, through 22 years of transportation 
appropriations bills, through the designation of the National Highway 
System and a host of other transportation legislation. He has always 
worked closely and fairly with the state departments of transportation, 
the construction and contracting industries, the National Governors' 
Association and numerous other organizations representing state and 
local government interests.
  And in all those years, from the first time I ever met Billy, he has 
been a true model of integrity, honesty, courtesy and compassion. Billy 
has decided to retire from his full-time duties at AASHTO, but 
fortunately for those of us in Congress who've had the pleasure to work 
with him on so many transportation matters, he intends to continue to 
keep his hand in the legislative process on a part-time basis as a 
consultant with AASHTO on governmental affairs.
  I was honored to be asked to speak at a reception for Billy on 
Capitol Hill this past Tuesday evening, June 22. One of the most 
impressive things about that event was that Billy's family was there, 
too. Billy's greatest joy is his family He and his wife Nancy have been 
married for 45 years and have raised a wonderful family including three 
sons and a daughter, all of whom are married, with their own children, 
a total of 10 grandchildren for Billy and Nancy. His oldest or ``number 
one'' son, as Billy calls him, is Craig Higgins, with his wife Wendy 
and their two children Kristen and Keith. Next in order is his son 
Duane Higgins, his wife Cynthia and their four children, Lauren, 
Michael, Danielle and Samantha. Then there is daughter Marcy, with her 
husband Bill Davis and their two children, Carter and Paige. His 
youngest son is Ron Higgins, with his wife Amy and their two children 
Rebecca and Tim.

  I would like to share my prepared remarks at the reception for Billy 
Higgins and urge all our colleagues who have had the chance to work 
with Billy to take the opportunity to wish him well.


                      In Tribute to Billy Higgins

  Many of you may not know that Billy and I go way back in Washington, 
all the way back to the 1970's--when our hair was much darker! We 
worked together at the Department of the Interior. Billy was at the 
Bureau of Mines and I was with Secretary Rogers C.B. Morton's office.
  It was easy to strike up a friendship with Billy because he was such 
a genuinely nice guy. In describing him, words immediately come to mind 
such as fair, honest, trustworthy, principled, hard-working, highest 
moral standards, a man of character.
  The first time we met, too, I saw in Billy a quality that hasn't 
wavered one millimeter over the years. And that's integrity. A lot of 
people in this town aspire to be called people of integrity. But along 
the way there may be a slip here, or a fudge there, and pretty soon, 
they're compromised and just don't measure up. There's never been a 
minute in Billy's career when he didn't measure up.
  When we walk out the door of whatever business we're in for the last 
time, all we take with us is our name. Billy Higgins today takes with 
him his good name--followed by well done, good and faithful servant.
  He is truly one of the good guys. He's also one of the most dedicated 
family men around this town, and it's so good to see his family here 
this evening. I know how important family is to Billy. I even ran into 
him a few summers ago on the Outer Banks where he and Nancy and all the 
kids and grandkids have a tradition of spending vacation time together 
each year.
  And I also know how important faith is to Billy. I have a quotation 
on my office wall from

[[Page E1389]]

Dr. James Dobson, which I'd like to share with you because I believe it 
could very well describe Billy:
  ``I have concluded that the accumulation of wealth, even if I could 
achieve it, is an insufficient reason for living. When I reach the end 
of my days, a moment or two from now, I must look backward on something 
more meaningful than the pursuit of houses and land and machines and 
stocks and bonds. Nor is fame of any lasting benefit. I will consider 
my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving 
family, a consistent investment in the lives of people, and an earnest 
attempt to serve the God who made me. Nothing else makes much sense.''
  That's Billy's legacy.
  Billy, I am grateful that our paths in life crossed and have run 
together for so many years, and I am proud to call you my friend. God 
bless you.

                          ____________________