[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING BILLY EARL HIBBS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2006

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, today it is my privilege to honor the life of 
a dear friend, Billy Earl Hibbs, who passed away earlier this year at 
the age of 67. Billy was a native Texan, born on September 25, 1938 in 
Quitman. He graduated from Quitman High School and married his high 
school sweetheart, Eugenia Stroud, in 1957. Eugenia and Billy had one 
child, Billy Earl Hibbs, Jr.
  Starting with a small, three-person insurance agency, Billy grew his 
business into Heartland Security Insurance Group, one of the largest 
insurance holding companies in the Southwest. Heartland is one of the 
largest providers of claims services to the Federal Government, 
including all branches of the military as well as non-military 
personnel injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite its size, Heartland 
maintains its Texas roots with its headquarters in Tyler and continues 
to serve almost half the school districts in Texas.
  The Texas Legislature recognized Billy's accomplishments in 1981 for 
his success in handling the John Tyler High School fire loss. In 1990, 
he led the passage of a bond measure to provide upgrades to the city of 
Tyler's infrastructure. A patron of the arts, Billy served as president 
of the East Texas Symphony Association and worked to relocate 
performances to the Cowan Center at U.T. Tyler. Billy also served as 
president of the Tyler Civic Theatre where he oversaw construction of 
the Braithwaite Theater and the opening of the Rogers Children's 
Theatre. As president of the Tyler Rotary Club he became a Paul Harris 
Fellow. Billy was a member of the Henry Bell Masonic Lodge, and a 
founding board member of the Better Business Bureau of Central East 
Texas. He served as a board member for Leadership Tyler, the Tyler 
Independent School District Foundation, and the Tyler Chamber of 
Commerce and was a member of the Order of the Rose. He was a member of 
the Pairs and Parents Sunday School class, an usher, and a past trustee 
of Marvin United Methodist Church. Billy also remained active in the 
Independent Insurance Agents at local, State, and national levels 
throughout his life.
  In 2004, Billy was inducted into the Junior Achievement ``Business 
Hall of Fame,'' and made a member of the honor business fraternity, 
Beta Gamma Sigma, at the University of Texas at Tyler. In 2005, Hibbs-
Hallmark & Company was honored with the Better Business Bureau's 
``Torch Award'' for demonstrating a commendable ethical record over the 
years, and recently, the Tyler Rotary Club honored Hibbs by 
distinguishing all present and future donors of $1,000 as ``Billy Hibbs 
Fellows.''
  Billy is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Eugenia ``Jeannie'' 
Hibbs, his son Billy E. Hibbs, Jr., and daughter-in-law Tisa Weiss 
Hibbs, two grandchildren, Stratton Weiss Hibbs and London Elizabeth 
Hibbs, and two sisters, Dorma Shields and Betty Cassels of Quitman, as 
well as other relatives.
  Billy was always generous with his time and leadership and he shared 
his many blessings with his community and his country. Mr. Speaker, 
Billy Hibbs was a valuable member of the community whose years of 
service will provide a legacy for many years to come.

                          ____________________