[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO J. WILLIAM ``BILL'' TAYLOR

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 2010

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good 
friend, Cheraw, South Carolina's 2009 Citizen of the Year, Mr. J. 
William ``Bill'' Taylor. Mr. Taylor received the Cheraw Chamber of 
Commerce's award last November.
  Bill Taylor was recognized with this distinguished honor for the 
tremendous work he has done for nearly 29 years as Cheraw's town 
administrator. He has served in the post under four mayors and numerous 
members of the town council. Another longtime personal friend, Howard 
Duvall, the former Cheraw Mayor who hired Bill in May 1981, presented 
the Citizen of the Year award to him.
  Duvall characterized Bill's greatest strength as his management 
style. He has instilled loyalty and respect among his staff, which has 
resulted in low turnover and many department heads who have worked for 
him nearly 20 years. Among his other accomplishments are erecting the 
Dizzy Gillespie statue honoring the hometown jazz legend, and the 
development of the Carolina Centre Industrial Park, the Cheraw 
Community Center, Arrowhead Park, and the Theatre on the Green. Bill 
earned a Bachelor's degree from Clemson University and a Master's in 
Public Administration from the University of Georgia. He came back to 
South Carolina to work for the Upper Savannah Council of Governments. 
He later worked for the city of Lancaster before becoming Cheraw's town 
administrator.
  He is very involved in the community serving as a former president of 
the Cheraw Rotary Club, former chairman of the South Carolina Cotton 
Trail Committee, and as a former board member for the Girls Scouts of 
Eastern South Carolina. He is a current board member for the South 
Carolina Advanced Technology Education Center and is a member of the 
Cheraw Economic Development Corporation, the Carolinas Centre 
Industrial Park Corporation, and the Chesterfield County Extension 
Advisory Council.
  Bill is also a member of a number of professional organizations 
including the Alliance for Innovation and the Governor's Drought 
Response Committee. He serves as the southeastern regional vice 
president for the International City & County Management Association 
and is a former member of the organization's executive board. He is 
also a former state president of the South Carolina City and County 
Management Association and is a graduate of the South Carolina 
Executive Institute. Bill and his beloved wife, Mindy, have three 
children--Olivia, Katie, and Brandon.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Bill Taylor on his selection as Cheraw's 2009 Citizen of 
the Year. This honor is recognition of his long commitment of service 
to his community and its people. I believe that the highest compliment 
you can be paid for your work is to be recognized by your peers. This 
award shows that Bill Taylor's peers appreciate his nearly 29 years of 
dedication and service. I am pleased to add my voice to those in Cheraw 
in thanking Bill Taylor for his tremendous contributions.

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