[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MR. WILLIAM B. WELLING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2006

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of an 
extraordinary individual who spent his life serving his country and 
fellow man. On April 15, 2006, Mr. William B. Welling passed away at 
the age of 82. A man of great sincerity, integrity, humility, courtesy, 
wisdom and charity, Mr. Welling was a trusted friend and mentor to many 
and will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
  A man of many hats, Bill was a historian, photographer, editor, 
writer, author and WWII Veteran. His love of knowledge coupled with his 
strong work ethic helped him to find success in all of his endeavors.
  After honorably serving his country in WWII, Bill returned to the 
U.S. and earned a degree from Yale University. Upon graduating, he put 
his many talents to work. His extensive career included serving as a 
reporter/aviation editor for the Baltimore Evening Sun, account 
executive for a New York advertising agency, and chief of technical 
publicity for the Baltimore Division of the Martin Company. He also 
edited a quarterly for the North American employees of the Danish owned 
Maersk line and regularly contributed articles to trade and 
professional media.
  Aside from his business career, Bill was recognized as a photo 
historian both in the U.S. and overseas. For five years he edited 
Photographica for the American Photographic Historical Society. This 
followed the publication of his Collector's Guide to Nineteenth Century 
Photographs, which was the first book for the photography collecting 
market published in the U.S. He is also the author of Photography in 
America, The Formative Years 1839-1900 and East Side Story which was 
privately published on behalf of the Boys Brotherhood Republic of New 
York.
  His strong belief that he had an obligation to help the youth of his 
community drove Bill to spend many years working with the Boys 
Brotherhood Republic, a youth recreation center on the Lower East Side. 
The organization teaches inner city youth the principles of self 
government and the value of education as a means to transcend the 
perils of negative youth activity. The 6 to 18 year old citizens of the 
Boys Brotherhood Republic (BBR) elect their own mayor and city council, 
and administer their own police and court systems. Under Bill's 
guidance these young men became adults, learning how to solve everyday 
problems as responsible committed citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, Bill's greatest assets in life were his intellect and 
sense of humor. His exceptional ability to pass on knowledge with 
constant wit and charm always made him the ``life of the party'', 
leaving all whom he encountered feeling not only joyful but more 
intelligent as well.
  There is an old saying: ``If you have knowledge, let others light 
their candles in it.'' The book on the life William B. Welling was 
completed on April 15, 2006. He can no longer offer advice, make us 
laugh, or personally pass on his vast wisdom to younger generations; 
however, his indomitable spirit lives on through the countless candles 
he helped others to light. Surely that is the mark of a meaningful 
life.
  For unyielding service to his country, family, friends and community 
and for being an inspiration to us all, I ask my colleagues to join me 
in bidding a final farewell to a great American, Mr. William B. 
Welling.

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