[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 125 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1948-E1949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TANNER PRAISES CAREER OF P-I PUBLISHER, BILL WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 1999

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, Bill Williams understands what community 
journalism is all about: ensuring an informed citizenry.
  And he practiced that kind of community journalism in the pages of 
the Paris Post-Intelligencer every day.
  Now at 65, he has decided to retire as publisher of the Paris Post-
Intelligencer on August 20, 1999. He had been the paper's publisher 
since 1978, when he took his father's place at the paper's helm.
  Bill took seriously the responsibility that comes with a free press, 
and you knew it immediately when you read his editorial page.

[[Page E1949]]

Whether it involved the Land Between the Lakes, the Tennessee Valley 
Authority, State government, or even national issues, Bill Williams 
stood up for his community and he wasn't afraid to take a controversial 
position when he believed it was the right thing to do. Indeed, in 12 
of the past 21 years his editorials were recognized among the best in 
the state.
  Bill's family has owned the Paris Post-Intelligencer since 1927, when 
his great grandfather, W. Percy Williams moved to Paris from Alabama 
and purchased the P-I.
  Upon his retirement, Bill Williams said he ``is very proud of the 
newspaper.'' It's safe to say that the citizens of Henry County and 
many beyond the county's borders are proud of Bill and his commitment 
to this community.
  His son, Michael Williams, takes over as the fourth-generation 
publisher and will continue the tradition of community journalism that 
has made the P-I an award winning newspaper.
  An article published in the Paris Post-Intelligencer in Paris under 
the headline, ``Publisher bill Williams steps down; Has been with P-I 
most of adult life'' as well as his last column are printed below in 
honor of Bill's service and commitment to his community.

  Publisher Bill Williams Steps Down; Has Been With P-I Most of Adult 
                                  Life

       With the retirement today of Bill Williams and the 
     promotion of Michael Williams, The Post-Intelligencer will 
     have a fourth-generation Williams as editor and publisher.
       Bill Williams has been with the paper most of his adult 
     life and has been publisher since 1978. His son, Michael, 40, 
     who has served as editor since 1992, will add the duties and 
     title of publisher.
       Bill Williams, who turns 65 today, became editor and 
     publisher at the retirement of his father, Bryant. Bryant 
     Williams in turn had taken over as publisher at the 
     retirement in 1967 of his father, the late W. Percy Williams, 
     who had come from Alabama to purchase The P-I in 1927.
       Bill Williams said Thursday he ``is very proud of the 
     newspaper.''
       ``I tired to see that it's been a good citizen of our 
     community,'' he added.
       He said that even though it's no fun dealing with an irate 
     advertiser or a reader who thinks he's been wronged in the 
     newspaper columns, he ``never seriously considered doing 
     anything else.''
       While attending Atkins-Porter and Grove High schools, 
     Williams was a paper carrier. During his high school years, 
     he also worked as a reporter after school, on Saturdays and 
     during the summers.
       After graduating third in his high school Class of 1952, 
     Williams went on to graduate with honors as a journalism 
     student at Murray State University. During his summers, 
     Williams took a break from his college work to be a reporter 
     for the P-I.
       Throughout his college years, Williams was also a member of 
     The College News staff. He was named the outstanding 
     journalism student during his senior year.
       After graduating from college, he was a reporter for the 
     Memphis Press-Scimitar for a brief period, then for The 
     Tullahoma News for three years before he returned to Paris in 
     1960 to become The P-I's news editor.
       One of the things he said he enjoyed about his work was 
     that at the end of each day, he was able to hold a paper in 
     his hands and say, ``Here's what we did today.''
       ``It's also a joy to hear from people who used to work here 
     and have gone on to do well in the newspaper business or 
     elsewhere, and heard them speak fondly of their time at The 
     P-I,'' Williams said. ``You feel like you had a small part to 
     play in making someone's life a little more complete.''
       Williams also added he appreciated the contact he had with 
     people both inside The P-I building and out, and that he 
     enjoyed meeting people and being involved in various 
     activities.
       ``Not every job offers that opportunity,'' Williams said.
       The P-I has won awards and honors while under Williams' 
     guidance. His editorials won state press awards in 12 of the 
     past 21 years, including the best single editorial in 1998. 
     That editorial lauded U.S. Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., for his 
     controversial vote against a constitutional amendment to 
     outlaw flag-burning.
       A 125th anniversary edition of The P-I, published in 1991, 
     won first prize in contests sponsored by the University of 
     Tennessee and the TPA. Those judging the entrants declared it 
     the best daily newspaper promotion in Tennessee during that 
     year.
       ``This is an exceptional service not only for the reader 
     but for the entire community, present and future,'' a contest 
     judge from the Washington State Press Association commented 
     about the anniversary promotion. ``Many newspapers do 
     something similar, but none with the depth and attention to 
     detail so evident in your entire project.''
       Williams has served as president of the Tennessee Press 
     Association and of the Tennessee Associated Press Managing 
     Editors. He was a founding member of the board of directors 
     of the Mid-America Press Institute.
       In retirement, Williams said he plans to stay involved in 
     civic activities, including the Optimist Club, where he's 
     past-president; the Heritage Center, where he's past-
     executive director; and the Presbyterian Church, where he's 
     an elder and Sunday school teacher.
       He added he and his wife, Anne, also plan to do some 
     traveling--``possibly snow birding to Florida or Texas in the 
     winter.''
       They also have three daughters, Cindy Barnett and Joan 
     Stevens, both of Henry County, and Julie Ray of Clarksville; 
     and 11 grandchildren.


     
                                  ____
           [From the Paris Post-Intelligencer, Aug. 20, 1999]

         I'm Not Very Retiring About the Role of the Newspaper

                           (By Bill Williams)

       Upon retirement, a fellow gets asked the usual questions 
     about the most memorable experiences or what it all has 
     meant. I suppose a valedictory is called for.
       I will not fib and say that every moment has been pure joy 
     or that I can't understand why I get paid for doing something 
     that is so much fun.
       There have been times that publishing a newspaper was pure 
     hell. It's no fun dealing with an irate advertiser. It's even 
     worse to talk with someone who's been hurt because we made a 
     mistake in print.
       I can truthfully say, though, that I've never seriously 
     considered any other line of work.
       If there any regrets, they're that I didn't spend more time 
     and energy preaching to our staff and to you, dear reader, 
     that newspapering is a noble business.
       When we think of the highest callings, what usually come to 
     mind are the ministry, the healing arts, teaching and perhaps 
     law and law enforcement. A lot of people put the press down 
     near the bottom, somewhere close to congressmen.
       Pardon my conceit, but I put the press up in that top 
     batch. We are in effect in the public education business. 
     People depend on us to know what's going on in the world so 
     they can react--where to spend their money, whom to vote for, 
     what to do this weekend.
       The function is contained in the name of our newspaper. An 
     intelligencer, as I understand it, was a town crier, one who 
     spreads intelligence (in the information sense) among the 
     public.
       I've always thought that Mirror is a good name for a 
     newspaper, too. I believe a newspaper's highest function is 
     to reflect as perfectly as possible what the world looks 
     like--both warts and dimples--so that the people will know 
     what to do. It's the philosophy of the Scripps-Howard 
     newspaper chain, which uses an image of a lighthouse and the 
     slogan. ``Give light and the people will find their own 
     way.''
       It's a view that puts the public in an exalted position. 
     Some think that people are basically stupid and can be led 
     this way or that by anyone who is smart, glib and media 
     savvy. I disagree; I think when people are fully informed, 
     they usually make the right choice.
       Others believe that the basic duty of a newspaper is to be 
     the community leader, beating the drum for needed 
     improvements and pushing people to do the right thing. That's 
     a high purpose, all right, but I really believe that an even 
     higher is the duty to tell just as fully as we can what's 
     happening and to trust the people to come to the right 
     conclusions.
       Well. I didn't intend to preach so, but this is a bully 
     pulpit.
       Let me take this opportunity to thank you for allowing The 
     P-I to be part of your life. I trust it will continue to be 
     for many years to come.

     

                          ____________________