[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO BILL LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and ask my colleagues to 
join me in paying tribute to Mr. Bill Lewis, a great American. Mr. 
Lewis passed away Saturday, November 26, 2005 at the age of 84. As an 
outstanding resident of Wilson County and as its first Director of 
Agriculture, I know that I speak for the masses when I say that he will 
be greatly missed.
  Mr. Lewis was born in Fairmont, North Carolina and attended North 
Carolina State University where he graduated in 1942 with a degree in 
Agricultural Education. He served the United States of America from 
1942 until 1945 as a member of the Army Air Corps in the Pacific 
Theater. He was discharged as a Captain.
  Mr. Speaker, after leaving the Army Air Corps, Mr. Lewis began work 
with the Agriculture Extension Service in 1948 as an Assistant County 
Agent working with Turkish tobacco at North Wilkesboro. Two years later 
he relocated to Wilson County.
  Mr. Lewis served the people of North Carolina his entire life. He 
established Wilson County's Agriculture Extension program which 
continues to serve the County well. He served as President of the North 
Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents (NCACAA) from 1968-
1969 and was also Chairman of NCACAA in 1971. He was a member of the 
National Committee of Extension programs in 1971. Mr. Lewis also served 
as Agriculture Advisor to North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt where he was 
able to ensure North Carolina's agricultural success.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Lewis was awarded for his great contributions to 
North Carolina agriculture when he was presented with the Distinguished 
Service Award from Wilson's Kiwanis Club in 1962. Mr. Lewis was also 
recognized in 1972 by Southern Tobacco Journal and served as Chairman 
of the extension programs committee of NACAA from 1973 until 1974. 
Under his Directorship, the Wilson County extension staff was 
recognized on two occasions by the Epsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity for 
team work and total performance.
  Mr. Speaker, I value this opportunity to pay tribute to such an 
outstanding citizen. I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging 
the outstanding contributions of Mr. Bill Lewis to the state of North 
Carolina and to this Nation.

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