[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF DR. WILLIAM ``DOC'' WILKERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2008

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
Dr. William ``Doc'' Wilkerson. Dr. Wilkerson, who passed away on 
February 29, 2008, was one of the founders of Flower Mound, Texas and 
also the town's second mayor.
  Doc Wilkerson was born in Madill, Oklahoma on December 21, 1917, and 
began working for a locksmith at age ten. This prompted his mother to 
enroll him in the Boy Scouts of America, where he later achieved the 
rank of Eagle Scout in 1935.
  In 1954, Doc bought 150 acres of unincorporated rural land north of 
the newly-created Grapevine Lake. It was here that his fight for Flower 
Mound began. During the early 1960s, Wilkerson worked tirelessly to 
halt Irving's attempt to annex what is now the town of Flower Mound. 
Doc was ultimately successful in stopping the annexation. After this 
success, he worked to incorporate present-day Flower Mound.
  Dr. Wilkerson was elected mayor of Flower Mound in 1968. He was only 
the second individual to hold the position of mayor for the young town, 
and he held this office until 1973. In honor of his passing, the town 
of Flower Mound will fly its flags at half-staff.
  The first mayor of Flower Mound, Bob Rheudasil, once said about Doc, 
``No words are big enough to talk about him.'' This is certainly true; 
Doc's tireless dedication to Flower Mound greatly contributed to 
turning the small town into the thriving community it is today.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to Doc's two sons, his brother and 
three sisters, as well as a long list of family members and friends. 
North Texas has lost a long-time friend and advocate. While Doc 
Wilkerson will be greatly missed by the community he helped found, he 
will forever be remembered for his dedication to the city of Flower 
Mound.

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