[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM POPE ``BILLY'' LANGDALE, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of William Pope ``Billy'' Langdale, Sr., a man I was proud to 
call my friend and constituent. An accomplished public servant who was 
devoted to his community, state, country, his family, and friends, 
Billy passed away on December 12, 2009, at the age of 88.
  Billy lived his entire life in Valdosta in Lowndes County, Georgia. 
He graduated from Valdosta High School in 1938 where he was a proud 
member of the Valdosta Wildcat football team. He went on to attend the 
University of Georgia, where he played football for the Bulldogs before 
enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. He served in the 
Marines for 10 years and was awarded a Bronze Star before retiring at 
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
  His public career began in 1960, when he was elected as chairman to 
the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, where he served for 16 
years. He then served as Chairman of the Georgia Department of 
Transportation board for 2 years before becoming the Second 
Congressional District representative on the DOT board, a post he held 
for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in numerous local 
transportation projects, from highway improvements to the six-laning of 
Interstate 75.
  Billy fittingly received many accolades for his public service, 
including being named as one of Georgia Trend magazine's ``100 Most 
Influential Georgians'' as well as South Georgia Business magazine's 
list of the ``Most Influential South Georgians.'' A highway in my 
district is named the ``Billy Langdale Highway'' in his honor. Upon his 
retirement in 2008, both the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House 
of Representatives passed resolutions thanking Billy for his many years 
of service to the state.
  Madam Speaker, the State of Georgia, especially the Second 
Congressional District, and our Nation have been truly blessed to have 
benefited from the tremendous leadership of Billy Langdale. He will be 
remembered for the compassion he spread continuously throughout his 
life, his great humor, his never ending modesty, his intense desire to 
help others, and his unwavering love for his family.

                          ____________________