[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM MICHAEL FINE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 17, 2005

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bill Fine, 
who is leaving his position as President and General Manager of 
Baltimore's WBAL-TV to return to Boston, where he will become Executive 
Vice President and General Manager, and, in 2006, President of WCVB, a 
station where he worked as Sales Manager before coming to Baltimore.
  Baltimore's loss will be Boston's gain, as Bill has been a pillar of 
our community. He has selflessly volunteered his time and energy to 
numerous charitable causes, including the Chesapeake Region 2012 
Olympic Coalition and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Through these 
efforts, Bill has established himself as a true civic leader.
  At WBAL, he transformed the station into ``the leader in nighttime 
news'' in Baltimore. Under his leadership, WBAL won the Peabody Award 
in 2004, the most prestigious award in broadcasting, for its reporting 
on Chesapeake Bay pollution. WBAL was also named as one of the ``Ten 
Stations That Do It Right'' by MediaWeek Magazine in 2001.
  Bill's accomplishments have been recognized by his peers as well. 
Baltimore Magazine named him Baltimore's ``Best CEO'' in 2000 and he 
was selected as one of the ``25 Leaders We Most Admire'' by Baltimore 
Smart CEO Magazine in 2005. Bill Fine was also awarded the American 
Advertising Federation's ``Silver Medal Award'' in 2004, in recognition 
of his ``Outstanding Contributions to Advertising.''
  I hope my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives will join 
me in saluting Bill Fine's exemplary record of leadership and service 
to the Baltimore community. We will miss his presence in our city and 
we wish him all the best in Boston.




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