[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 194 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2299-E2300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THANKING BILL HARRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2011

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, each Member of this body is assisted by 
those who serve on our staffs. The roles and responsibilities of a 
Member of Congress make it impossible for any one individual to do it 
all. It takes a team.
  Today I wish to recognize and express appreciation to a key member of 
my team as he retires from official public service.
  Bill Harris has served as my Chief of Staff and then Senior Counselor 
since 2004. But his service to the country began in 1968 as a member of 
U.S. Army Signal Corps and his service to the Congress began in 1972, 
when he took a job as a staff assistant to Congressman Mike McCormack 
of Washington State. Earning his law degree from Georgetown, he was 
Congressman McCormack's Counsel until 1976.
  Between his stints with the Congress, Bill worked for the Atomic 
Industrial Forum, the Committee for Energy Awareness, the U.S. Council 
for Energy Awareness (which is now the Nuclear Energy Institute), and 
the University Research Alliance. In each of these positions, Bill's 
focus was energy and the tremendous possibilities that can come from 
nuclear research and development.
  In 2004, I enticed Bill back into government service to serve as my 
Chief of Staff. He led my team by helping each staff member develop his 
or her talents and interests to grow and serve the people of the 13th 
district. His expertise in energy and in management, as well as his 
background in the law, were invaluable. But, perhaps most importantly 
has been his character and strong, steady leadership.
  Too few individuals possess the modesty that puts the good of the 
organization and the mission ahead of any personal considerations. Yet 
some of the strongest leaders and those with the most to say are those 
persons of character whose soft-spoken demeanor quiets the noise with 
intellect, honesty, and sound judgment. Bill is just such a leader.
  He has helped ensure that we made decisions based on the concerns of 
the people in Texas, not how policy in Washington should control the 
lives of people back home. No matter what the task, my staff and I 
counted on Bill's guidance and sense of duty to the people we 
represent.
  Of course, Bill's commitment to service goes beyond his profession. 
He spends his free time engaging with all corners of the community. For 
example, he is currently a Mission Pilot with the Civil Air Patrol, a 
long-serving board member of the Harrington Cancer Center of Amarillo, 
and a member of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee. 
But that is just a sampling. Over the years, Bill and wonderful wife 
Bev have become fixtures in the community when it comes to serving 
others and the community as a whole. Bill has been on more committees 
and organizational projects than anyone could count.
  President Reagan put a premium on principle-based leadership. He kept 
a small plaque on his desk in the Oval Office with a quote that read, 
``There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he does 
not

[[Page E2300]]

mind who gets the credit.'' Bill's example of servant leadership is one 
that has shaped the lives of many individuals and shown that a 
benevolent heart earns the respect of others.
  It is for this spirit of service and dedication to the highest 
standards of excellence that I am honored to recognize the 
contributions and to acknowledge the retirement of a man who is a 
credit to my office, his family, and our country.
  As he moves into the next phase of his life, I want to express my 
gratitude, not only for all of his help with my work in representing 
the 13th district, but for all he has done so far to make our community 
and our region a better place to live.

                          ____________________