[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   IN MEMORY OF THE LATE BILL HORVITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 27, 2000

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of 
William ``Bill'' Horvitz, who passed away early last December at the 
age of 73. It is with a tremendous feeling of sadness that I speak in 
his honor: the South Florida community has lost an outstanding 
philanthropist who may never be replaced.
  There can be no doubt that Bill's personal history is an 
extraordinary one. One of three sons of Cleveland real estate 
businessman Samuel A. Horvitz, Bill Horvitz and his brothers continued 
his father's real estate ventures after his passing. Moving to the Fort 
Lauderdale area in 1953 to take over his father's real estate interests 
in the Hollywood, Florida, he became the proprietor of countless acres 
within Broward County. Indeed, Bill's stewardship of this property was 
instrumental in Broward's transition from a quaint bedroom community to 
a bustling economic powerhouse.
  Developing much of his Broward County real estate, Bill established 
such properties as Hollywood Hills, Emerald Hills, Hollywood Mall, the 
Venture Corporate Center, South Florida Industrial Park, and various 
other communities, both residential and commercial. In 1985, Bill also 
sold more than 1,200 acres of land to the state and county--this 
valuable tract of land later became West Lake Park and North Beach 
Park.
  Bill is perhaps best known for his commitment to the South Florida 
community. Throughout his lifetime, Bill was a tremendous supporter of 
charitable causes. He was involved with a myriad of organizations 
throughout his life in South Florida: these organizations included the 
Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, the Broward Center for the Performing 
Arts, the East Seals Society, the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, the 
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, the Boys and Girls Club of 
Broward, the Salvation Army, and the Jewish Federation of Broward 
County.
  It is well documented that he contributed regularly to his alma 
mater, the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated from the 
Wharton School in 1947. Additionally, he made an effort to lend his 
financial support to various organizations struggling to survive 
economically. For example, in 1992, Bill was instrumental in helping 
the Greater Hollywood YMCA to survive by renegotiating its $1.6 million 
debt. Such efforts led to much recognition for Bill and his wife. Even 
as late as December 2, 1999, Bill was honored with the President's 
Community Award from Nova Southeastern University, a school where the 
administration building bears his name.
  Mr. Speaker, while William Horvitz passing is a tremendous loss for 
the South Florida community, I can say without hesitation that his 
memory will live on through the work of the many organizations to which 
he dedicated his life. Though we will all miss Bill's presence, I would 
like to thank and praise him for his hard work and leadership in 
improving the world at large.

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