[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 3 (Friday, January 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E41]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING FORMER CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM RATCHFORD

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                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 7, 2011

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to Congressman William Ratchford who passed away on Sunday at the age 
of 76. He served in this body for three terms from 1979 to 1985 
representing Connecticut's fifth congressional district. Bill was born 
in Danbury, Connecticut in 1934 and led a remarkable life that was most 
notable for putting public service first. His father was a hat-factory 
worker and Bill went on to graduate from the University of Connecticut 
and then to Georgetown University Law School. After graduating from law 
school, he became a lawyer in Danbury and served in the Connecticut 
National Guard. He was first elected to office in 1962 as a 
representative in the Connecticut General Assembly where he served for 
six terms and rose to the position of Speaker of the House during his 
last four years. While in the State House, he became involved in the 
issue of aging, which came to define his legacy. He made a tremendous 
contribution to the state as chairman of the Governors' Blue Ribbon 
Committee on Nursing Homes, and in 1977 he was tapped by Governor Ella 
Grasso to become the state commissioner on aging.
  In 1979, Bill won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 
Fifth Congressional District in Northwestern Connecticut. During his 
three terms in Congress, he served on the committees on appropriations, 
transportation, education and labor, and interior. Bill continued to 
have an active career after leaving Congress, remaining involved in 
government and teaching at Georgetown University. He was appointed by 
President Clinton to be assistant administrator at the General Services 
Administration where he served until 2001.
  Bill Ratchford was an honest public servant who cared deeply about 
making the world around him a better place and advocating for the 
issues that he passionately cared about. He will always be remembered 
for his focus on senior citizens and children and will be missed by all 
who knew him. I offer my deep condolences to his wife Barbara of 53 
years, his three sons, and to his family and friends.

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