[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3275-H3276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING FORMER CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM WAMPLER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Griffith) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRIFFITH of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, 
Representatives Bob Goodlatte, and Robert Hurt, I am deeply saddened to 
report the passing of a former Member of this body. On May 23, 2012, 
former Ninth District United States Congressman William Wampler passed 
away at his home in Bristol, Virginia. A man of principle, integrity, 
and courage, our Nation has truly lost a great man.
  Born in Pennington Gap and raised in Bristol, Bill attended the 
Bristol public schools. The son of a hardware store businessman and a 
schoolteacher, Bill was a budding leader even in his youth. He was 
voted class president each of his 4 years at Virginia High School.
  At the height of World War II in May of 1943, Bill, just 17 years 
old, enlisted in the United States Navy. For the next 27 months, Bill 
served as a seaman until the end of the war. Upon returning to 
southwest Virginia, Bill resumed his studies, pursuing his 
undergraduate degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1948 and 
then his law degree from the University of Virginia.
  A Republican by birth, Bill joined the party his family supported 
because of its opposition to slavery. His first foray into politics 
came in 1948 while working as the Republican assistant campaign manager 
for the Ninth District congressional elections. Shortly thereafter, in 
1953, at the ripe old age of 26, Bill was elected to the 83rd Congress. 
For the next 2 years, Bill had the distinction of being the youngest 
Member of Congress.

                              {time}  1100

  Though Bill spent nearly 20 years in office, one incident from the 
83rd Congress stayed with him for the rest of his life. On May 1, 1954, 
four Puerto

[[Page H3276]]

Rican nationalists, apparently on a tour of this very congressional 
gallery, pulled out pistols and fired 41 rounds of ammunition at 
Members of Congress. When the shooting ceased, five Representatives 
were wounded in the attack. By an act of God, none were killed.
  After a short period of time in the private sector, Bill returned to 
Congress in 1967. He went on to serve in seven succeeding Congresses 
until 1983. The ranking Republican member of the House Agriculture 
Committee, a member of the Committee on Aging and the Committee on 
Committees, Bill always considered it a great privilege to serve the 
people of the ``Fighting Ninth.'' Fondly known as ``The Bald Eagle of 
the Cumberlands,'' I assure you and the people of the Ninth District 
that his legend will never die.
  Even though he was in failing health, I was greatly honored, when I 
was elected in 2010, to have Bill Wampler show up at our victory party 
in Bristol and hand me his No. 9 license plate as a part of his legacy. 
I hope that I can achieve the greatness that he achieved and have the 
abilities that he had. He was truly a great man.
  His legacy and influence will long be remembered across the Ninth and 
throughout southwest Virginia. I am honored to pay tribute to Bill's 
many contributions to our community, our region, and our Nation. He was 
a friend and a courageous public servant. My thoughts and prayers go 
out to his wife, Lee; his children; friends; and loved ones. May God 
give them comfort during this difficult time.

                          ____________________