[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E344-E345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING WILLIAM MITCHELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the following is a speech 
given by the former Mayor of South Windsor, John Mitchell, to honor his 
brother, William Mitchell, for being recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow 
of the Rotary Foundation. These two brothers are united in their love 
of public service and a willingness to give back to their community. It 
has been an honor to know them both. John's tribute to his brother 
offers only a brief glimpse into his many contributions.
  Billy is affectionately known to friends and family as ``Big,'' and 
we call him this because of his big heart, and for always being a big 
help to anyone who asks. Congratulations Big, and thank you, John, for 
the following remarks:

       In the words of that great S.W. Rotarian and philosopher 
     Robert J. Ignagni, ``This is the main event!'' Thank you all 
     for coming and being a part of this great evening to honor my 
     baby brother Billy.
       For everything and everyone there is a beginning, and this 
     is the way it unfolds . . .
       Billy, was the 5th child of 6, born to Joseph and Katie 
     Mitchell. We had 3 older sisters and my father was ready to 
     jump off the Buckley bridge. He always wanted a son and then 
     he got his wish, 3 more children, all 3 boys.
       Now, years ago, think about it, our mom gave birth to six 
     children--all in the house wherever we lived at the time. Two 
     girls born in Pennsylvania, 1 in New Britain, Billy and 
     myself in Manchester and Joey in East Hartford. There really 
     wasn't a need for hospitals during this period in our 
     Nation's health care system, but somehow it worked.
       Now, if you have ever been poor, it is quite likely, you 
     will remember it. Believe me, you will remember it!
       Growing up in East Hartford on Tolland Street during World 
     War II was an experience for six siblings. Coal was the 
     method that most people used to heat their homes, and our 
     father delivered coal. At our yard there were piles of coal, 
     sometimes as tall as this beautiful restaurant. And for many, 
     many of our young growing years, we would climb those piles 
     of coal and slide and tumble down those huge piles. The 
     neighbors often thought mom had 3 white daughters and 3 black 
     sons, we were the only minorities at the time on Tolland St.
       Ice skating was great fun in the winter time, the wooded 
     area across the railroad tracks would contain little locked 
     up areas of frozen ponds that were great for skating all 
     over. Often as our feet grew and the skates didn't we would 
     cut off the front of the skates to accommodate the growth of 
     our feet. Everyone was poor but nobody knew it. Many of you 
     in this room won't remember, except for Kenny Jackson, this 
     is the World War II era, everything is in short supply, gas, 
     soap powder, butter. You name it, it probably was tough to 
     get. Often our family would sit together on the front porch 
     during the air raids at night because Pratt and Whitney was 
     considered a prime target. Wardens would be running up and 
     down the street making sure all lights were out. There were 
     national guard bunkers with guardsmen living in them on the 
     Long Hill Golf Course and on Goodwin Street almost in our 
     back yard, frightening times for kids. And guess what, the 
     Germans do arrive in a sub in Hancock Point, Maine, right 
     where Della lived at the time, and a number of them go 
     walking up Main Street in suits, they were going to 
     infiltrate the area. They are promptly apprehended because 
     they just didn't fit into the local area. Nobody in that part 
     of Maine owned a suit! Talk about not doing your homework!
       But we survived it all, and by 1952 the family moved to 
     S.W. where the base of Billy's operations for business is 
     today. Back then it was called North Foster Rd., it was a 
     gravel road and we quickly fit in to our new surroundings by 
     working in the tobacco fields and man were they all over 
     town. After Billy graduated Ellsworth High School, he worked 
     for the family business known as Mitchell Fuel and Trucking 
     and after the coal business died, Billy and Joey started 
     Mitchell Trucking and Mitchell Excavators. Billy became 
     active in town joining the SW Volunteer Fire Dept. and was 
     recently recognized for his service of 50 years and he still 
     to this day, is chairman of the board of fire commissioners. 
     During this period I will never forget 3 incredible fires in 
     town. The Industronic's building on Sullivan Ave., the 
     Pyrofax Propane fire on Rt. #5, and the Fishman Building on 
     Chapel Rd. As the Pyrofax fire was raging, I was standing out 
     in the middle of Rt #5 as huge propane tanks were burning out 
     of control and I saw Billy jump into a piece of heavy 
     equipment and cut a path so the fire trucks could get closer 
     with their suppressants and as the fires burned out of 
     control, one large piece of metal debris landed a short 
     distance from me, I thought how incredibly brave he was, or 
     was he just plain dumb. Needless to say, he survived and this 
     act of bravery did help diminish that huge and dangerous fire 
     more quickly.
       Years ago, the trucking business was thriving and Billy 
     actually used to drive a ten-wheeler, Billy calls me around 
     6:30 a.m., ``Johnny could you get a couple of shovels and 
     meet me at the intersection of Crane Road and Wapping Wood 
     Road in Ellington, I said sure, I'll be right there as soon 
     as I can.'' Now picture this in your mind, Billy's big 10 
     wheeler is laying over on it's side, gravel all over and I 
     arrive with two small shovels. If ever there was to be a 
     defining moment in our lives, this was it, I knew it, I 
     absolutely knew that I would forever be

[[Page E345]]

     mom's favorite. The trucking business was tough enough, but 
     when something like that happens, it did hurt. You'd hire the 
     trucks out for $45 an hour and it would cost $47 to run them. 
     But, I attribute his love of the trucking business was due to 
     the fact that he never had any toys to play with.
       Now I'm going to fast forward to 20 years ago, because I 
     know the attention span of the average S.W. Rotarian is less 
     that 10 minutes. And there is already a fair amount of money 
     that has been bet on the over and under, 10 minutes.
       Billy started Environmental Services, they now employ over 
     55 people and have approximately 100 different pieces of 
     specialized equipment. The office often is in a constant 
     state of confusion and activity, Billy's computer screen 
     clearly shows where he has left off on the game of solitaire. 
     A quick look around reveals all the latest types of health 
     foods imaginable (and boy if that isn't an understatement). 
     Visitors coming and going, and so when I go there and bring 
     him a coffee, it's so easy to understand why I forgot what I 
     went there for in the first place. But, I'll tell you this, 
     Billy loves oil companies, just loves us passionately. You 
     see we deliver oil products for $3 $4 per gallon and God help 
     you if you spill it, he will clean it up for $100 per gallon!
       Throughout his many years, Billy has had a unique way of 
     handling pressure, and I really admired this talent. Picture 
     this, ``courtroom scene'' billy is the co-defendant in a suit 
     brought against him. He is represented by the Big East 
     Hartford law firm, Leone, Throwe, Teller and Nagle. In the 
     midst of the proceedings, Judge George Ripley smacks his 
     gavel down and says Attorney Throwe approach the bench, so 
     Jim approaches the bench and Judge Ripley says if you don't 
     wake your client up I'll hold you both in contempt. Can't you 
     see we have students present observing these proceedings. 
     That's about as relaxed as you can get!
       Not long ago Billy was honored by the S.W. Volunteer Fire 
     Department for his many years of service and recently he was 
     selected to be the Town Marshall representing the Town of 
     S.W. for the St. Patrick's Day parade. This is despite the 
     fact that I think he is actually polish. Oh well!!!
       Additionally his recent awards and citations include one 
     from Governor Dan Malloy, Secretary of State, Denise Merrill, 
     the General Assembly, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Mayor John 
     Pelkey and the S.W. Town Council, Atty. General George Jepson 
     and State Comptroller Kevin Lembo. (I think he's trying to 
     snag his signature stamp). After all this prominence, I 
     decided to stop by the office and ask him if he was dying. 
     Billy says ``No, why how do I look?'' I said well maybe you 
     might want to lose a pound or two and don't roll up your tee-
     shirt so high--but we are who we are.
       Over the many, many years, Billy has always supported 
     Rotary's fund raising efforts by either donating items for 
     the auction or the purchasing of countless car raffle 
     tickets, which was started by Andy Charboneau, and Rotary's 
     many other worthy causes.
       Billy's never been a Rotarian although he's been asked 
     many, many times. He never held a public office, he never 
     excelled in sports and when we played baseball in the lot 
     next to our home in East Hartford and things didn't go well 
     for our youngest sister, the game was over because it was her 
     bat and her ball. Billy exhibits the kind of quality that you 
     would like to see in everyone, a compassion for his fellow 
     man and a willingness to help whenever and however he 
     possibly can. He exhibits to the highest degree, the first 
     rule of Rotary's motto, ``Service Above Self''. Billy's life 
     style reflects the work ethic of a seemingly distant era, 
     except for maybe his favor nephew Davids. Billy is asleep by 
     8 p.m., awake by 4 a.m. and on his way to the 7 11 on 
     Ellington Rd., where he may be asleep in the parking lot, 
     stocking shelves or making coffee for the attendant. It was 
     on one such early Sunday morning on his way there that he 
     noticed a raging garage fire starting to lick the side of a 
     home. A mother with her 3 children lie asleep inside and he 
     pounded on the door and was able wake them and call the Fire 
     Department to respond. It is quite likely that he saved their 
     lives.
       When that final book is written, I believe it will not be 
     the measure of one's achievements or wealth but what that 
     person has done with his or her life to help make this a 
     better and caring world.
        Fellow Rotarian's and guests, I submit to you the nominee 
     for Rotary's highest award, the Paul Harris Award to Billy F. 
     Mitchell.

                          ____________________