[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 54 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MAYOR HAL BALDWIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2012

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the commitment of the 
late Mayor Hal Baldwin of Schertz, Texas. Mr. Baldwin, one of the 
longest continuously serving council members in the state of Texas 
served on the Schertz City Council for twenty-nine years and as the 
city's Mayor of another eighteen years. Mayor Baldwin's nearly forty 
years of service to the community will echo even in his passing.
  Mr. Baldwin, the Wichita, Kansas native moved to Schertz, Texas in 
1967 as he was finishing a 20-year enlisted career in the Air Force 
with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. While on active duty, Baldwin 
served with the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Naha Air Force Base, 
Okinawa, during the latter months of the Korean War. He also served at 
Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the Vietnam 
War. He finished his military career at Randolph Air Force Base, where 
he served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Command 
Graphics Branch, Presentations Division, Headquarters, Air Training 
Command.
  By the early 1970s, Baldwin's first interaction with city government 
was with the Citizens Advisory Committee that advised City Council on 
matters. Later, he partook in a program called ``Project Transition'' 
which was an Air Force program that sought to let retiring members work 
half a day in a civilian job for a period of time until they retired 
and could work full time in that job. As a tax-assessor collector for 
the City of Schertz as his half day civilian job, he learned about city 
government and issues. After six years, he took a job as a business 
manager for the school district and served in this position until his 
retirement in 1998.
  After serving his country and learning the ropes of city government, 
his political career began. He was appointed as a City Council member 
and in 1994 he ran for Mayor of Schertz, won and served in that 
position until 2012. His landmark services as Mayor include the 
formation of the Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corporation and more 
recently raising awareness of historical places in the area, such as a 
number of century old homes in the city. I had the honor of working 
collaboratively with Baldwin since 2006 on projects for the City of 
Schertz, including bringing a new Post office to the area.
  The mayor and Mrs. Barbara Baldwin were married for 55 years, they 
have five children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, 
all of whom reside in the Schertz area. Mayor Hal Baldwin's love for 
the Schertz community can be measured by one simple fact--he has spent 
half his life in public service to that community.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had the opportunity to recognize 
the late Mayor Hal Baldwin. His hard work and valor have truly impacted 
many lives and our community.

                          ____________________