[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO MR. BILL WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER JOHN

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2001

  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, each morning in my hometown of Crowley, in the 
heart of South Louisiana's Cajun Country, residents turn on the radio 
to a familiar sound. Between the classic melodies of the 1930s and 40s, 
listeners are treated to their daily dose of local news, talk and 
happenings in and around the Crowley area. In many households, this 
start to each new day is a family tradition. Young and old alike tune 
in to AM 1450 in the early hours of each morning to hear the voices of 
Bill Williams and Shel Kanter supply the local news, school lunch 
menus, and the ever-popular mystery quiz. Far from ordinary and always 
full of surprises, Bill and Shell truly are the ``voices'' of Crowley.
  Bill and his partner Shel have made the Bill Williams/Shel Kanter 
radio program a morning staple. Forty-four years of continuous air time 
is a feat in any media market, but Bill and Shel offer so much more 
than a radio show. They perform a service to our community each 
morning, by getting our day off to a positive start and reminding us 
that humor is the rule rather than the exception.
  I would like to honor Mr. Bill Williams for his lifetime of service 
and dedication to the citizens of Crowley. I join with the Crowley 
community in commending him for his selfless and tireless efforts to 
better and promote our home. Though he was bom in Illinois, and spent a 
considerable portion of his life in the Northeast, Bill has become such 
a vital part of our community over the past 44 years, that it is 
difficult to imagine there is any other place he would desire to call 
home.
  Off the air, Bill is a leader in the Town of Crowley. He serves on 
the Crowley City Council and has worked diligently to make the 
International Rice Festival one of the most recognized cultural 
celebrations in Louisiana. He is commonly known as ``Mr. Rice 
Festival,'' and he was recently honored by the Louisiana Rural Tourism 
Commission for his success in growing the annual event. Bill has made 
the Rice Festival an annual celebration of our area's rich agricultural 
industry, culture, cuisine and history. Today, the International Rice 
Festival is the oldest and largest agricultural festival in Louisiana, 
due in large part to Bill's efforts.
  I want to offer him a heartfelt thanks for his constant efforts to 
build upon Crowley's tradition of excellence. Bill, I honor you, I 
honor your devotion to the betterment of our community, and most 
importantly I thank you for your lifetime of dedication to our 
wonderful hometown.

                          ____________________