[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 21, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO DR. WALTER D. ``WALLY'' WILKERSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Toomey). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute to one 
of my constituents, a very special man, Dr. Walter Wilkerson, Jr., who, 
on June 24 of this year, will be stepping down as Chairman of the Texas 
Board of Health.
  Dr. Wilkerson was appointed to the Texas Board on June 7, 1995; and 
shortly after that, on September 1, Texas Governor George W. Bush named 
him chairman. We are fortunate in Texas that, although his term as 
chairman is ending, he will continue to serve on the Board of Health.
  As chairman, Dr. Eriksson took on the health care needs of every 
single Texan, building an awareness that public health is for everyone, 
every day, and everywhere. He has been a listener who steered his board 
and agency to consensus on almost every difficult issue that came 
before it.
  Furthermore, under his tenure, the Texas Board of Health has had a 
strong relationship with the Texas Medical Association, made 
significant strides in developing a partnership with local health 
directors and local health policymakers. He has made a significant 
effort to maintain an open and respectful dialog with the business 
communities. And all of Dr. Wilkerson's efforts have been designed at 
building a cooperative environment for the betterment of the health of 
every Texan.
  At the beginning of his tenure on the Board, he retired from private 
practice in Conroe, Texas, to be joined in 1958 after graduating from 
the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1955. In 1951, 
Dr. Wilkerson received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M 
University, which I am proud to represent.
  While a practicing physician in Conroe, though he sought no honors, 
Dr. Wilkerson was named Outstanding Citizen of Montgomery County in 
1974 and in 1991 was the Texas Family Physician of the Year and named 
by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Wilkerson is a man of integrity and dedication; and 
Texas is a much better place because he agreed to answer the Governor's 
call and provide us leadership. I am honored to call him my friend.

                          ____________________