[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 175 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2467-E2468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF WILLIAM ECKMAN, CHARLES COUNTY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with you remarks made 
at the 6th Annual Charles County Economic Development Summit by William 
Burke on the occasion of presenting the ``John Bloom Citizen of the 
Year Award'' to Mayor William Eckman. Mayor Eckman is a true American 
patriot whose compassion, caring and concern for the residents of 
LaPlata shined forward during the difficult tornado disaster of April 
2002. All of us in the Charles County community share Mr. Burke's 
enthusiasm in recognizing Mayor Eckman.
  To follow are the remarks presented by William Burke, Board Member, 
Charles County Economic Development Commission, President, Southern 
Maryland Title on October 28, 2003.

[[Page E2468]]

  ``I would like to start by stating that this award is not given out 
each year. Only when a citizen exemplifies the highest degree of 
devotion to the well being of our community, do we bring out this 
award. However, this year it is certainly necessary to acknowledge the 
devotion of Bill Eckman, the mayor of La Plata, with this award.
  Bill Eckman first came to Maryland when AT&T transferred him here 
from Pennsylvania. He had been the Fire Chief in his Pennsylvania town. 
He joined the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department, where he served for 
12 years. He has been a consistent and steady supporter, participant, 
teacher, writer and speaker for fire and rescue issues. He has traveled 
to many cities addressing fire and rescue infrastructure. He has 
started 9 specialized fire fighting training programs. After he retired 
from AT&T, he wrote a book about fire protection and water supply.
  Bill and his wife Delores lead a bible study program focused on 
community. The program teaches others to build relationships and care 
for one another. Bill practices this philosophy in his activities with 
the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home where he regularly brings services and 
music with other lay preachers to the residents. This also gives him 
the opportunity to display another talent. Bill plays his trumpet with 
an informal group at the Veterans home.
  Bill has been married for 52 years, has three children and three 
grandchildren.
  Bill Eckman was a La Plata Town councilman for at least 10 years and 
has been mayor for 20 years.
  In that time, La Plata has changed. The population has grown from 
under 2,000 to nearly 8,000. The Town Hall has had 4 homes and is 
getting ready to find a new location. The town staff has grown from 15 
to 50.
  He has devoted much of his adult life to municipal government. He has 
been the president of the Maryland Municipal League and is presently a 
well-respected member of the League's Legislative Committee. Often, he 
is asked to speak before the State Legislature.
  It is safe to say that during this time Bill has made friends and 
earned the respect of elected officials on both sides of the aisle.
  Bill has always wanted La Plata to be a happy place to live; a town 
that enjoys the fruits of good growth without losing the benefits of a 
small town. He has always wanted to plan, and whenever possible, to 
stay ahead of infrastructure needs. He has been known to get excited 
about the very unsexy jobs that come with being mayor--like putting in 
a new 15-inch sewer pipe.
  Doug Miller, La Plata town manager, remembers when Bill first had the 
summer long concert ideas. Doug thought there might be a citizen 
turnout for 3-4 concerts, but thought Bill's vision was a bit 
ambitious. Well, for over 10 years, the La Plata Town Hall has hosted 
Friday night summer concerts to a packed lawn of families.
  However, all the smart growth initiatives, concert series and sewer 
pipes were just sand in the bucket compared to the leadership Bill 
would exhibit after April 28, 2002. Every Mayor and Town Manager sweats 
weather conditions that have the potential of causing harm to their 
town and heaves a sigh of relief when storms pass on by, but this time 
they were not so fortunate. This time Bill had to go into high gear and 
get the job done. He had to stand strong for residents and businesses 
that faced ruin, despair and fear. He was dealing with a complete lack 
of services, the water tower was down, electricity was gone, telephone 
communication was hampered, helicopters were med-evac-ing the injured, 
and the press was descending. He will tell you that there were many 
people who made the miraculous recovery possible, but there always has 
to be a leader that makes everything seem possible.
  Here is a quote from the newspaper. ``Every morning since the tornado 
hit early one Sunday evening, La Plata Mayor Bill Eckman has taken a 
walk around town to talk with demolition crews and neighbors.''
  Regardless of how many people contributed there is a very interesting 
reason why recovery did not have to start from square one. Bill had 
already realized that La Plata was in transition and had previously put 
together a new town visioning process many months before the tornado.
  The blue print for recovery was there because Bill is an optimist, a 
visionary and a leader.
  It is for those qualities that we honor Bill Eckman as the 2003 
Citizen of the Year.
  Mr. Speaker, please join with me and the Charles County community in 
recognizing the numerous contributions Mayor Eckman has made to our 
County, our State and our Nation.

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