[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1784-E1785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PRAISING STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL COLLIER'S PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost William H. ``Bill'' 
Collier is a gentleman who represents the finest traditions of public 
service and generosity that so many Tennesseans hold dear.
  I was privileged to serve in the Tennessee state legislature with 
Rep. Bill Collier for four years from 1984 to 1988. For six years after 
I was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, I represented 
several communities that also had the good fortune to be represented by 
Bill Collier during his service in the state legislature.
  He retired from the state legislature in 1994 after a distinguished 
career dedicated to public service on behalf of the people of Humphreys 
and Benton Counties.
  Just last month, a section of Highway 70 in New Johnsonville was 
named for Bill Collier. That action was not only fitting, but also well 
deserved for a man who was committed to public service. It doesn't hurt 
that the bypass at Waverly was built largely because of his 
perseverance.

[[Page E1785]]

  And that's not all that can be said about Bill. He is also one of the 
finest auctioneers Middle Tennessee has known.
  Bill Collier, his wife, Patricia, their three children and two 
grandchildren are a tribute to the values we as Tennesseans consider so 
important and we wish him the best.
  An article published in the News-Democrat in Waverly under the 
headline ``Collier Looks Back at His Career'' is printed below in honor 
of Bill's public service and dedication to his family.

           [From the Waverly (TN) New Democrat, July 9, 1999]

                    Collier Looks Back at His Career

                           (By Grey Collier)

       Work to become, not to acquire.
       This quote by Elbert Hubbard in Monday's Tennessean might 
     be best exemplified by Humphreys County native William H. 
     (Bill) Collier.
       Collier, who last weekend was honored by having a section 
     of the newly-widened Highway 70 in New Johnsnville named for 
     him, has long worked for the good of his home county.
       Collier promised to try and get the bypass in Waverly when 
     he ran for the state representative in 1984.
       ``We got the first three phases in Waverly funded,'' 
     Collier said.
       ``Then we realized we needed to get it through New 
     Johnsonville.''
       Upon entering his first term in the state legislature, 
     Collier went to bat for the county immediately.
       ``I was in a meeting and an aide come to ask if he could do 
     anything for us,'' Collier said. ``I told him I wanted an 
     appointment with Gov. (Lamar) Alexander.''
       At the time, there was a recession going on and 
     Consolidated Aluminum had closed. ``I told him about the 
     shape Humphreys County was in and that we needed a bypass to 
     bring in business,'' Collier said.
       ``He told me I was the first freshman (new representative) 
     who spoke with him so candidly and he was going to help me,'' 
     he said.
       Soon after, Alexander made a visit to the county and plans 
     were announced for the bypass.
       ``Our last conversation before (Alexander) left office 
     was about the bypass,'' Collier said. ``He said, `Bill, 
     the money is in the budget for the bypass, don't let 
     anything happen to it'.''
       Collier was successful in getting on the transportation 
     finance ways and means committee which was also a big help in 
     getting the bypass financed and built.
       ``John Bragg was the committee chairman and told me he had 
     heard all he wanted to about `that bypass','' Collier said. 
     ``I told him he would stop hearing about it when it was 
     built.''
       The completion of the by-pass is one of Collier's favorite 
     accomplishments, but there are others as well.
       He acquired a $250,000 grant for factory building in the 
     Waverly Industrial Park and a $50,000 grant for a feasibility 
     study of the state park in New Johnsonville.
       ``Those are the three things I am most proud of,'' Collier 
     said. ``But I have to attribute all of my accomplishments to 
     the good help I had from local leaders and other 
     politicians--especially Sen. Ben. Riley Darnell.''
       Collier did not run for reelection in 1994 due to health 
     reasons. That ended his 10 year tenure in the legislature and 
     a 22 year political career.
       A Humphreys County native, Collier was born in the Big 
     Richland community. He was employed with TVA for 10 years as 
     an iron worker and foreman.
       In 1957 he attended Reppert Auction School and began 
     working part time as an auctioneer and real estate agent.
       ``I felt TVA and went full time as an auctioneer and real 
     estate agent in 1960,'' he said.
       His office was located on Main Street. At that time there 
     was only one other real estate office in Waverly. How times 
     change.
       Since then he has not only conducted hundreds of auctions, 
     but also took part in training a few.
       ``Governor Buford Ellington appointed me to the auction 
     commission over west and part of middle Tennessee for five 
     years,'' Collier said.
       He was also an instructor for five years with the Nashville 
     Auction School.
       ``I have five auctioneers at Collier Realty and have taken 
     an active part in training all of them,'' he said.
       He worked alone for three years before Gene Trotter came in 
     as an auctioneer and Shirley Rochelle as a real estate agent. 
     Nancy Trollinger worked as Collier's secretary for 20 years.
       When he entered the legislature he took on Kenneth Dreaden 
     as a partner so that he could devote more time to his 
     political office.
       In 1967, Collier married Patricia Fowlkes Collier. They 
     have three children, Greg Gunn of New Johnsonville, Allyson 
     Haggard of Okeechobee, FL, and Daniel Collier of Waverly.
       He has two grandchildren, Connor Gunn, 6, and Mollie 
     Collier, 3.
       These days you are most likely able to catch him at the 
     office where he still goes daily. Otherwise, he is likely to 
     be sitting on the front porch swing, sharing Diet Coke and 
     peanuts with his granddaughter.

     

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