[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2148-E2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO BILL GARRETT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHNNY ISAKSON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, in 1990 during my race for Governor of 
Georgia I had the privilege to meet and get to know Heath Garrett, then 
a student at the University of Georgia. In the years since, Heath 
became my campaign manager, my Chief of Staff, and always my friend.
  As our friendship grew, I came to know Heath's father, Bill. On the 
evening of October sixteenth, Bill Garrett passed away, the victim of a 
heart attack and a lifetime battle with diabetes. I rise today, to pay 
tribute to the life of Bill Garrett.
  During the past year, Bill volunteered in my Congressional District 
Office 4 hours a day answering the phone and greeting constituents. He 
always answered the phone the same way, ``Johnny Isakson's office, Bill 
Garrett how may I help you.'' Bill Garrett's voice was always pleasant, 
and his ``how may I help you'' assured the caller he really wanted to 
help.

[[Page E2149]]

  As I came to know Bill, I learned of his battle with diabetes. For 
over 50 years Bill dealt with the daily blood sugar test, the rigid and 
limiting diet, and the inevitable complication of the disease that 
strikes thousands of Americans every year. Like so many Americans with 
diabetes, Bill Garrett did not complain and led a productive life.
  As we pause to pay tribute to Bill Garrett, each of us in Congress 
should renew our effort to commit the funds for the research to find a 
cure for diabetes. There are thousands of Americans like Bill Garrett, 
and many in every Congressional district in this country. Let us work 
together to make tributes like this less frequent, and the occurrence 
of diabetes less frequent in America. Let us do it for Bill Garrett.

                          ____________________