[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MR. WILLIAM NEWTON HEAPS

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                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, December 17, 2005

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to Mr. 
William Newton Heaps and to recognize his many accomplishments. He is 
truly a man who embodies the American principles of hard work, 
dedication to one's family and service to one's community. William 
Heaps was born August 20, 1930 to Johnnie and Louise Vandiver Heaps and 
raised on a farm in Franklin County in Alabama's Fourth Congressional 
District. While residing in Russellville, Alabama, William Heaps was 
manager of the Farmers' Co-Op for numerous years. Later he moved to 
Clanton, Alabama and there he was sales representative for Fuller 
Supply Co. of Birmingham for 29 years until his retirement in March of 
2000. As an adult he attended singing schools in addition to being 
privately taught by F.R. Morgan, a student of Vaughan Normal School of 
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. ``My Title to Those Mansions'' was the first 
song written by William Heaps and it was published in 1966 by Vaughan 
Music Company. This was the first of over 100 songs that he has 
written. As a member of the First Methodist Church of Clanton, William 
Heaps has served for several years on the administrative board. He has 
also served as Chairman of the Chilton County Gospel Singing 
Convention. He was a representative for the Vaughan and the Tennessee 
Music Companies for a number of years. He has served on the Supreme 
Cabinet, as Chaplin, as Vice-President and as President of the 
Convention. He currently serves as a representative for the Gospel 
Heritage Music Company. He has been a great supporter of and actively 
engaged in the Alabama State Gospel Singing Convention for many years. 
As he continues to write music, he resides in Clanton with is wife, 
Bernice. They have two twin daughters, Shelia Mims and Shirley Henley, 
and a son Tommy Heaps, who is now a Methodist Minister. They also have 
one granddaughter, Laura Heaps, and two grandsons, Will Heaps and Scott 
Mims. William Heaps is a true ``Christian Gentleman'' who is 
compassionate and respectful toward others. He is a great 
``encourager'' with a positive outlook and sound advice. He is an 
inspiring role model for all of us and I join his friends and 
colleagues in recognizing one of Alabama's great composers of gospel 
songs.

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