[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 141 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1717]]
                       HONORING WILL G. BASS, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the wonderful life of 
Mr. Will G. Bass, Jr. of Oakland, CA. We lost this exceptional 
community leader and dedicated leader and dedicated man of God on July 
19, 2008.
  Will G. Bass, Jr. was born on May 25, 1939 in Gilbert, LA. His 
parents were the late Will and Ivory Cameron Bass, and he was baptized 
under the leadership of Reverend R.N. Teats in the Cuba Baptist Church 
at a very early age. He remained an active member of this congregation 
until moving to California as an adult.
  Education and personal growth were important values to Mr. Bass, 
which he fostered throughout his life and promoted among the many young 
people that looked up to him. As a young man in Louisiana, Will 
attended and graduated from Franklin Parish Training School. He later 
graduated with a degree in Business from Grambling University before 
moving to California where he met and married Ms. Betty J. Dobson on 
August 6, 1960. Theirs was a loving union which spanned almost five 
decades and produced two children, DiLeen and Nelda. A family man, Will 
honored and cherished these three women, and it was very clear to his 
friends and community that his favorite pastime was spending time with 
his family, which continued to grow in size and compassion throughout 
the years.
  A dedicated advocate for the prosperous development of his adopted 
community in California, Will was widely known as an astute 
businessman. He was the Founder and President of the Integrated 
Technology Group (ITG), which provides services as an information 
technology and business assistance firm, as well as a land consultant. 
As a result of Will's ingenuity, creativity, and personal drive, ITG 
was involved in some of the major and historic development projects in 
the Greater Bay Area. This included the 1 billion dollar Hunters Point 
Shipyard Development Project and the 1.3 billion dollar Oakland Airport 
Expansion Project.
  Will Bass was a man of many talents and accomplishments, reflective 
of the great diversity and innovation present in the East Bay, where 
the 9th Congressional District lies. Among one of Will's many great 
personal attributes was his astute ability to think globally, while 
acting locally. He was able to foresee major international trends in a 
way that pushed opportunities for Oakland to the forefront and 
developed new frontiers for my constituency. An example of this was his 
pioneering accomplishment as the first African American businessman in 
the Bay Area to be substantially involved in trade with Russia, China, 
and South Africa. When my esteemed colleague in the Senate, the 
Honorable Dianne Feinstein, was Mayor of San Francisco, Mr. Bass 
accompanied her to Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire, west Africa to establish 
the San Francisco-Abidjan Sister City Committee. This was the first 
time an African city had been engaged in a sister city endeavor with 
San Francisco.
  Will Bass was a Founding Member and Past President of the 100 Black 
Men of the Bay Area, Inc. He served on the Board of Trustees of Allen 
Temple Baptist Church, and was a Founding Member, Treasurer and Board 
Member of the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce. Will 
was also a Founding Member of the Oakland African American Chamber of 
Commerce, and he served on the boards of the American Institute of 
Ethics, the Westside Health Center, and a host of other organizations.
  The contributions Will made to his community throughout his life are 
endless. He was a true inspiration, and an exceptional role model, 
especially for young men and women of color striving to build up their 
communities. Thanks to his inspiration, they now contribute to their 
neighborhoods and work to improve their opportunities so that they may 
pursue productive and full lives. His legacy will surely live on 
through the lasting impact he made on so many lives.
  Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Mr. 
Will G. Bass, Jr. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and 
loved ones, especially his wife, Mrs. Betty Bass, his daughters, DiLeen 
Dean and Nelda Jacobs, his sisters, Bernice Bass and Estelle Bass 
Harnage, his brother, Lannie Bass, his aunts, Pearl Shaw, Neicie Scott, 
and Roberta Cameron. He is also survived by his grandchildren Quianna, 
Annaque, Kameron, Niah and Savana Dean, and Trenton Jacobs, and his 
nieces and nephews, Ivory Bass, Yyanisha Gregory, Jamie Harnage, Marcus 
Bass, Chonsae Bass, and Jason Harnage. May his soul rest in peace.

                          ____________________