[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 44 (Thursday, March 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BILL RADIGAN OF VERMILLION, SOUTH DAKOTA

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I was deeply saddened today to learn of 
the passing of a dedicated public servant and a dear friend to South 
Dakota and to me. Bill Radigan spent his entire life serving those 
around him, and he will certainly be missed.
  As a young man, Bill joined the Army Air Corps, so that he could 
serve his country during World War II. After the war, he returned to 
his hometown of Vermillion, SD to continue what would become a lifelong 
commitment to public service. He served Clay County with the U.S. 
Postal Service for 35 years and coordinated Vermillion's school bus 
system. Thousands across the State benefitted from Bill's work with the 
American Legion and the VFW, where he served as secretary of the South 
Dakota Teener Baseball program for more than 30 years, and as State 
Quartermaster/Adjunct for nearly 50 years. For 55 years he was a member 
of the Vermillion Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as 
secretary-treasurer. Bill was a dedicated husband to his wife Susie, 
the loving father of 11, and a grandfather to many.
  In 1988, Bill ran for, and was elected to, the Vermillion City 
Council. Six years later he was elected mayor. Vermillion has been well 
served by its mayor, and, under his leadership, the city has embarked 
on a number of exciting projects that will sustain the community's 
prosperity well into the future.
  Bill Radigan's list of accomplishments is certainly impressive. But 
those activities only began to scratch the surface of who Bill was and 
why he will be missed. Bill didn't engage in public service because he 
wanted to add to a list of accomplishments. He simply saw something 
that needed to be done, and he stepped forward to answer the call. From 
serving in the military, to agreeing to help drive busloads of children 
to school, no job was too daunting, or too insignificant, for Bill 
Radigan.
  As a mayor, Bill was universally recognized as someone who was fair, 
who truly valued citizen involvement in the governing process, and who 
cared deeply about his community. From the business community to 
college students, Bill Radigan truly valued every Vermillion citizen's 
thoughts on the issues confronting the city. I have never heard of 
anyone who thought they were treated unfairly by Bill Radigan, and even 
those with whom he disagreed found him sincere and honest. Bill Radigan 
was effective because he based every decision he made as mayor on what 
he thought was best for the community. We could all learn a lot from 
Bill Radigan's commitment to his community and his approach to 
government.
  I wish to express my sincere condolences to Bill Radigan's family and 
to the people of Vermillion. Mayor Radigan was a dedicated father, a 
model public servant, and a wonderful person. We will miss him.

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