[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 159 (Thursday, October 29, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF BILLY HINDS SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 29, 2009

  Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, Bill's family asked me to say a few words 
about my memories of him as I first knew him and as so many of you knew 
him as you worked with him.
   If I were talking about someone else, I would say something like 
``those of you who knew him in his professional position'' or something 
like that, but that would be such a wrong idea of what Bill Smith was 
and why we all have such wonderful memories of him.
   He was Bill Smith-Principal, Superintendent, friend, cohort, buddy.
   I've often wondered if when people are experiencing the ``best of 
times'' if they knew it was the best of times.
   I didn't know those early years at Richland High School would be 
some of the best years of my life, the best years of many of our lives, 
but I knew it was great fun and great excitement and Bill Smith made it 
so.
   His own creativity brought out the creativity of the rest of us.
   Whether you were on the ball field
   On the stage
   In the science club
   Or the yearbook staff
   He made it important to be a winner and enjoy the role you played.
   His own sense of what was important and what was trivial infected us 
all and has stayed with me for years.
   The trivial was treated by him as amusing. He just got a kick out of 
people and events.
   He was a great storyteller and did some very good impersonations, 
but he didn't have a mean or petty bone in his body.
   He loved what he did and he loved that school. The newness of a 
school can be exciting in and of itself, but the establishment of 
traditions, the development of an identity, those stay with a faculty, 
graduates, and a community forever.
   He just had so much joy in it all. He was unabashedly proud and 
loyal to the school--and encouraging of all of us who were a part of 
it.
   The whole community was in such a period of growth, and Bill was 
such a part of that so that the school and the community couldn't be 
separated.
   It was as if the future were all in front of us, and he had found 
himself leading the band.
   Paula Good said it so well after we talked and shared some memories. 
She said, ``You know, I often felt he was a little bit surprised to 
find himself in his position.''
   I agree. And that added so much to the energy and enthusiasm he had.
   He was never about his position or title.
   And that is what helped him look at it so as to enjoy and soak up 
every day.
   He approached life with such humor and such humanness.
   He was funny and fun-loving and wouldn't take himself too seriously 
or let any of us around him.
   He was so positive about everything. The smile never left his face, 
and the humor was always right on the surface.
   I made so many mistakes in those years as a young teacher.
   I finally decided to ask permission and seek some advice, but in the 
beginning, I just came up with an idea and did it!
   And when it didn't work out exactly as I had planned, he would walk 
down to my room, he would put his hands behind his back, sort of lean 
back, grin and say, ``Well, Ms. Granger, what have we been up to now?''
   The time that remains vivid in my mind was a day when the school was 
closed but the yearbook staff was trying to meet a deadline.
   They all trooped to the school to meet me but we had never checked 
to see if the school was unlocked, just assumed it would be.
   It wasn't, but one of the kids said, ``No problem, Ms. Granger, I 
can let us in.''
   He did and we were hard at work, when in walked Mr. Smith, the 
principal!
   Same stance, same words, except he was accompanied by some of the 
city's finest--in blue uniforms.
   A neighbor had reported a break in of the school. They had called 
Bill and all came to see who had come into the school from the roof.
   Ooooh. Not good . . .
   From Bill . . .
   Same grin. Same question, and some advice he gave to me more than 
once: ``Try it once. If it doesn't work, don't do it again.''
   That was the way he managed.
   He never doused the enthusiasm. Never stopped the flow of energy. 
Always encouraging and believing anything was possible
   With his teachers
   With the students
   With the community.
   There are so many memories of that time and all are good ones.
   And every picture in my mind has him smiling and finishing with his 
chuckle, and he is probably still thinking: ``Ms. Granger, what are you 
up to now?''

                          ____________________