[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BILL WALSH

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a constituent 
and a pioneer in substance abuse treatment, Bill Walsh, who is retiring 
this year.
  Mr. Walsh grew up in New Bedford, MA, and attended Seton Hall 
University. He served as a Radioman First Class in the U.S. Navy during 
World War II. Aboard the USS Hyter, he participated in the naval escort 
for President Franklin Roosevelt as he flew to the conference at Yalta.
  After he left the Navy, Bill Walsh nobly dedicated his life to 
helping those in need of mental health services and those debilitated 
by alcohol and substance abuse. For 3 years, he served as the executive 
director of the Mental Health Association of Eastern Connecticut, where 
he created community mental health services and educational seminars to 
meet the needs of eastern Connecticut.
  And, for the last 34 years, Mr. Walsh has served as the president of 
the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. In that 
position, he oversaw the development of three halfway houses, a 
detoxification program, outpatient services, and community-based 
education programs. He has helped thousands confront the devastating 
effects of drug and alcohol abuse and take the difficult steps to 
recovery.
  Mr. Walsh was also a pioneer in long-term care in Connecticut. In 
1979 he developed the Lebanon Pines Treatment Facility for those with 
chronic alcoholism, who are invited to live and work at the rural, 
alcohol-free facility for an indefinite period. This program has no 
doubt helped hundreds of individuals find sobriety.
  Bill Walsh's selfless desire to truly help those in need is further 
evidenced by the extent to which he has been willing to share the vast 
knowledge that he gained working on the front lines. Over the last five 
decades, he has strenuously lobbied the Connecticut legislature on 
behalf of those suffering from addictions to drugs or alcohol and their 
treatment providers. He has served on numerous boards and advisory 
committees dedicated to substance abuse treatment. And he has lectured 
on substance abuse and community rehabilitation projects at colleges 
and universities in Connecticut and throughout our Nation.
  Millions of Americans battle drug and alcohol addiction every day. 
Bill Walsh has dedicated his life to making sure that they don't fight 
alone. For his tireless service, Connecticut and, indeed, the whole 
Nation owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.
  Next week, a dinner will be held in honor of Bill Walsh's many 
contributions to the field of substance abuse treatment and to raise 
money for a scholarship fund to support those who want to become 
substance abuse treatment professionals. Both the dinner and the 
scholarship fund are wonderful tributes to Bill's contributions to 
serving those who struggle each and every day with addiction.
  Once again, I thank Bill Walsh for his years of dedicated service to 
his community, to Connecticut, and to our Nation. And, I send my best 
wishes to him, his wife Cinda, and his family as he embarks on this new 
stage in his life.

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