[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E830-E831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF WILLIAM G. WOOTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRAD ELLSWORTH

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important 
contributions of one of my constituents and friends, Dr. William 
Wooten. For nearly a decade, Dr. Wooten has been a leader in substance 
abuse prevention in the Evansville, Indiana community.
  While serving as the Medical Director of Addiction Services for the 
Mulberry Center in Evansville, Dr. Wooten saw an alarming number of 
young people with substance abuse problems. Inspired by a program in 
Little Rock, Arkansas, Wooten urged a community effort to combat this 
problem. In March of 1998, Wooten's organizing efforts culminated in 
Youth First, Inc., which focuses on prevention and early intervention 
approaches to reduce substance abuse. Under Wooten's leadership, the 
Youth First program has grown

[[Page E831]]

rapidly each year since its inception and this year will serve over 
20,000 people.
  For all of his outstanding work, Dr. Wooten has been honored by such 
groups as Family Partnership Against Drugs, Boys and Girls Clubs of 
Evansville, The United Way and Rotary International. On April 19, 2007, 
he was presented with Leadership Evansville's 2007 Lifetime Achievement 
Award. I am proud to have this opportunity to honor Dr. Wooten for his 
distinguished service to the Evansville community.

                          ____________________