[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM J. BARRETT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2009

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Joint 
Committee on Printing, I rise to note the passing of William J. 
Barrett, of Alexandria, Virginia. Mr. Barrett died January 26, 2009, at 
age 81, following a distinguished career in Federal service that 
culminated at the Government Printing Office (GPO) in the senior 
positions of Superintendent of Documents, Deputy Public Printer, and 
finally as acting Public Printer.
  Before transferring his flag to the GPO, Bill Barrett had a 
successful career in the Navy Department, where he climbed from the 
position of fiscal accounting clerk in 1949 to acting Administrative 
Officer of the Navy, reporting to the Undersecretary of the Navy. In 
1971, Bill was appointed as the first administrative officer of the 
GPO. Within two years of his arrival at GPO, Bill became Deputy 
Assistant Public Printer--Superintendent of Documents.
  By 1981, Bill was appointed Assistant Public Printer--Superintendent 
of Documents. In that position, Bill oversaw GPO's Federal Depository 
Library Program, which distributes government documents to depository 
libraries in every state of the Union. While there, Bill was 
instrumental in stemming financial losses then plaguing the agency's 
document sales program. In April 1982, Bill was appointed to Deputy 
Public Printer, the second highest position in the agency. When the 
Public Printer resigned in January 1984, Bill served as acting Public 
Printer until he retired from Federal service in the following 
December.
  Madam Speaker, although I did not have the privilege to know and work 
with Bill Barrett, I am told that he was a genuine friend to the GPO 
and well respected by the Members and staff of the Congress. While 
serving, Bill traveled extensively to educate Americans about the GPO, 
its operations and the important missions it fulfills, and many 
consider him perhaps the best ``ambassador'' the GPO has ever had. His 
distinguished career reflected his dedication and devotion to the 
Federal service and the people we all serve. I commend Bill Barrett's 
record of service to the Nation, and on behalf of the Joint Committee 
on Printing, I offer our condolences to Betty, Bill's wife of 59 years, 
and to their six children and their families.

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