[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S6838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM E. COLSON

 Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to William E. 
Colson, a great Oregonian, who devoted his entire life to building and 
operating quality senior housing. Beginning in 1971 in Salem, OR, Bill 
Colson and his father Hugh built and operated independent living 
communities for seniors. The company they founded, Holiday Retirement 
Corp., earned a reputation for providing middle-income seniors access 
to outstanding housing and services. By steadily constructing and 
selectively acquiring senior housing properties, Holiday Retirement 
Corp. grew to become the largest owner and manager of senior housing in 
the world.
  Bill Colson and his partners, including his wife Bonnie, son Bart, 
and Dan Baty, Norm Brendan, Patrick Kennedy, Thilo Best, Mark Burnham, 
the Hasso family, Bruce Thorn, and their loyal employees and investors 
collectively built and managed over 80,000 senior living units in the 
United States, Canada, France and United Kingdom.
  Bill Colson has been recognized as a founding father of seniors 
housing by the American Seniors Housing Association, an organization he 
helped create in 1991. With his passing at age 66, Bill Colson leaves 
his wife, two sons, Brad and Bart, and three grandchildren, all of whom 
he adored. He was beloved by his family and by the thousands of 
employees and residents he served so well over the years. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing Bill Colson and celebrating his 
lifetime of achievements building and operating outstanding housing for 
seniors across North America and Europe. He will be remembered by those 
whose lives he touched as a devoted family man, successful businessman, 
generous philanthropist, genuine friend and a great American.

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