[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ANNOUNCING THE PASSING OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE BILL ORTON OF UTAH

  (Mr. MATHESON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, it is with regret that I bring before the 
House the news that a former colleague, Bill Orton from the Third 
District of Utah, passed away in a tragic accident just last Saturday. 
He was out with his kids recreating on some sand dunes in central Utah.
  Bill was a smart Member of Congress. He was a substantive Member of 
Congress. He was someone who spoke his mind, and I know that his 
commitment to public service continued after he left this institution. 
He was first elected in 1990. He served for 6 years. He was one of the 
founding members of the Blue Dog Coalition here in the House of 
Representatives while he was here.
  I would like to yield to my colleague from Utah (Mr. Bishop) for some 
comments, and then I will ask for a moment of silence.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, none of us in the delegation had the 
opportunity of serving with Mr. Orton while he was in Congress. I did, 
though, have the opportunity to know him, as a result of being majority 
leader and speaker of the House in the Utah legislature in his first 
two terms, and as such got to know that Mr. Orton was indeed someone 
committed to public service. We offer our deep condolences to him and 
his very young family at this tragic occurrence and remember him with 
fondness for his commitment to his country and his State.
  Mr. MATHESON. We certainly want to offer our condolences to Bill's 
wife, Jacquelyn; his sons, Will and Wes. And with that, I ask the House 
recognize this with a moment of silence.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will all Members please rise for a moment of 
silence.

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