[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S14830]]
                   TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM AND OLENE DOYLE

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I am proud to stand before my 
colleagues today and pay tribute to a couple who have so positively 
influenced the people of Washington County, Vermont over the course of 
their lives. William and Olene Doyle will be honored as the Washington 
County Citizens of the Year by the Green Mountain Council of Boy Scouts 
on November 22nd, 1999.
  My old friend Bill Doyle has navigated a well rounded career as a 
teacher, politician, and author. Since 1958, he has been teaching 
history and government at Johnson State College. In 1968, he was 
elected to serve as one of Washington County's three State Senators, a 
role in which he has thrived for over three decades. As a skilled 
teacher and a master of parliamentary rules, Bill has been an 
invaluable mentor and mediator in the Vermont State House. Bill has 
written two books, including The Vermont Political Tradition, which is 
regarded by many to be a ``must read'' on Vermont political history. He 
has also taken his passion for government and politics and created the 
annual ``Doyle Poll,'' our yearly gauge of public opinion on the 
hottest and sometimes most controversial issues facing Vermonters. 
While admittedly unscientific, the poll's results are soundly 
reflective of Vermont sentiment.
  As the son of an art teacher, I have always held a deep respect for 
the arts and for those who are able to inspire creativity in our 
nation's young people. Olene Doyle has taught art in elementary, 
secondary, and higher education institutions in the central Vermont 
region. Her dedication to arts and education led her to volunteer 
positions on the local school board in Montpelier, as well as on the 
board of the Wood Art Gallery, where, incidently, I now hold the annual 
Congressional Arts Competition.
  Bill and Olene raised three wonderful children. However, they have 
never stopped teaching as evidenced by their ongoing community service 
and involvement in their local church and non-profit organizations. 
Given the countless hours they dedicate to community service, it is 
noteworthy that the couple finds the time to pursue personal hobbies 
such as golf and gardening. And while I have never had the privilege of 
seeing the Doyle gardens, I have been told they are a vibrant 
reflection of the dedication which Bill and Olene give to everything 
they do.
  I am thankful for the opportunity to express my heartfelt praise. I 
can think of few couples more worthy of this award. Years of 
partnership and devotion to each other have inevitably spilled over 
into the Vermont community, where Bill and Olene have truly made their 
mark as two of Vermont's most influential and giving people.

                          ____________________