[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 73 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF WILLIAM E. REICHMUTH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true public servant 
and transportation visionary. William E. Reichmuth is retiring from his 
three year tenure as the executive director of the Transportation 
Agency of Monterey County, known locally as TAMC. This position tops a 
thirty-eight year career of public service that began with the United 
States Navy's Civil Engineer Corps where he reached the rank of Captain 
and received the Navy Commendation Medal. Bill later held public works 
and engineering posts with both the U.S. Army and the City of Monterey. 
Throughout this career, Bill has been both a model to his profession 
and a leader in his community.
  Bill has overseen numerous key public works projects and innovations. 
As the City of Monterey's public works director, Bill oversaw the 
redevelopment of the City's two commercial wharfs that are at the heart 
of its fishing and tourism industries. He also helped craft Monterey's 
contract to manage the Defense Language Institute's base operations, 
saving the Army millions of dollars and thereby helping to ward off 
efforts to close or relocate the Institute in the latest base closure 
round.
  On the transportation front, Bill has been on innovation's cutting 
edge. He has shepherded the design of the Monterey County portions of a 
coastal trail project that will one day link Monterey and Santa Cruz in 
a continuous bike and pedestrian path. Though neither of us could be 
mistaken for Lance Armstrong, I share every bit of Bill's contagious 
enthusiasm for the bike trail's recreational and economic development 
potential. Bill also played a key role in facilitating TAMC's purchase 
of the Monterey Branch Line from Southern Pacific Railroad. This will 
give our region new transportation options. And while Bill has set the 
pace on alternative transportation, he has paid great attention to road 
and highway needs that are crucial to a rural community such as 
Monterey County. Under his leadership, TAMC has advanced projects to 
ease the highway congestion that affects the region's agricultural 
produce, many visitors, and residents alike. He has made a special 
focus of safety; for example, improving the entrance into Monterey's 
Ryan Ranch office park.
  Bill has been an active member of his professional community, serving 
in a variety of leadership posts with the American Public Works 
Association and the California Society of Professional Engineers. He 
also serves as a lector at the Carmel Mission Basilica. Finally, no 
description of Bill's life and work is complete without reference to 
his other transportation passions, namely an addiction to cars. Bill 
loves sports cars; especially new sports cars. I am told that something 
as little as a needed oil change is enough to prompt Bill to trade up 
to the latest model of Porsche. Bill is an amateur racer and has served 
as the president of the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey 
Peninsula.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for my colleagues when I applaud 
Bill Reichmuth's career of public service and wish him a happy and 
speedy retirement.

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