[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               RECOGNIZING WILLIAM T. ``BILL'' McLAUGHLIN

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Mayor 
William T. McLaughlin. Bill, as he is affectionately called by his 
friends--and Bill has a lot of friends--celebrated his 90th birthday on 
December 22, 2006. During the 90 years that the world has been blessed 
with Bill's presence, he and his late wife Mary have touched many lives 
and helped countless people. His contributions have ranged from serving 
his country during World War II, serving the city of Wilmington for two 
terms as the city's mayor and for 12 years on the city council before 
that, and offering continued service with numerous community projects 
both before and after his tenure in elected office.
  William T. McLaughlin was born on December 22, 1916, on Wilmington's 
east side. One of 12 children, Bill often joked that the Great 
Depression helped to raise his family's standard of living. When Bill 
was 16 years old, his father lost his job. Bill's devotion to his 
family led to his dropping out of high school in order to accept a job 
cleaning the Boy's Club in Wilmington's Browntown neighborhood. He then 
went to work at a linoleum plant where, after being turned down for a 
two-cent raise, he helped organize a union for the plant employees. 
This type of initiative would be a hallmark of Bill's life.
  At the age of 22, Bill signed up for the National Youth 
Administration, a Federal program he hoped would send him to 
California. Instead, he was assigned to a swamp drainage program in 
southern Delaware.
  After helping to reduce Delaware's mosquito population, Bill decided 
to seek more adventurous endeavors and joined the Army Air Force during 
World War II. He trained as an electrical technician and saw action as 
a radio operator and tail gunner. He was shot down over the skies of 
New Guinea but managed to survive and went on to complete 50 missions 
before returning home to Wilmington.
  Upon his return, Bill attended night school on the GI bill. During 
this time, Bill went to work for DuPont, where he would work for 30 
years, mostly as a supervisor in the company's business machines 
section.
  It was during this time that Bill would meet the woman who would 
become the love of his life. Mary's enthusiasm and outgoing personality 
were a good counterpoint to Bill's soft-spoken manner and she would 
have a huge influence on both his future and the future of Wilmington. 
Together, they raised two sons, William and Donald.
  Unlike many elected officials, Bill did not enter politics until the 
later years of his life. In 1964, Mary encouraged him to run for 
Wilmington's 9th ward city council seat. Bill won the election and 
continued to serve on the city council for 12 years. During this time, 
he became the council's finance chairman. In 1976, he agreed to seek 
election as Wilmington's mayor after then-Mayor Tom Maloney decided to 
run for the U.S. Senate.
  Bill was elected as Wilmington's mayor and served two terms in that 
capacity, serving from 1977 until 1984. During this time, his openness 
and compassion helped him cultivate a renaissance for the city. He held 
weekly ``open door'' sessions where any citizen could come by his 
office and voice their concerns or simply chat about local issues.
  As mayor, he worked with Governor Pete DuPont and other State leaders 
to develop the Financial Center Development Act, which laid the 
foundation for Delaware's rebirth as a financial services center. He 
also helped lead the efforts to recruit dozens of out-of-State banks to 
set up shop in Delaware, creating more than 30,000 jobs for the First 
State.
  During his time in office, Mayor McLaughlin helped implement the 
desegregation of Delaware's public school system in northern Delaware. 
Bill never forgot the obstacles that he had to overcome during his 
lifetime and sought to level the playing field for all Delawareans, 
regardless of the color of their skin. He also increased housing 
opportunities for people with low incomes, and he worked tirelessly to 
create new jobs by recruiting potential employers to settle in 
Wilmington and the surrounding areas.
  Bill also played a pivotal role in promoting the Delaware arts 
community, helping to create the Delaware Theatre Company and the 
Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts.
  What stands out most to me--and for a generation of Delaware's 
political leaders--is Bill's willingness to mentor young people seeking 
elected office. When I first ran for State treasurer in 1976, Bill was 
among the first public officials I reached out to. His support and 
kindness were instrumental in my first campaign and continue to be a 
source of inspiration for many of Delaware's elected officials.
  After leaving office in 1984, Bill continued to play a vital role in 
the lives of countless Delawareans. He championed the disadvantaged 
through his involvement with numerous community service efforts. In 
1996, he and Mary founded the William T. and Mary McLaughlin Education 
Fund, which continues to provide academic support for deserving 
students in Wilmington and New Castle County. After Mary's passing in 
2002, Bill continued their work to help better the lives of their 
fellow Delawareans.
  Bill's hard work and devotion to service have led to countless 
community service awards. In 1985, on his last day as Wilmington's 
mayor, Bill was awarded the Josiah Marvel Cup for public service, the 
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce's most prestigious award. Many 
people would have seen that award as a capstone, but Bill seemed to 
view it as a foundation upon which he continues to build his legacy.
  Bill is a true friend of Delaware. His compassion, integrity, warm 
sense of humor and vitality of spirit are a true inspiration for us 
all. I rise today to commend his hard work, to applaud his devotion to 
community service and to wish him many more happy birthdays in the 
years to come.

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