[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 154 (Tuesday, December 4, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S7397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MAYOR BILL PAXTON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to my 
good friend the mayor of Paducah, KY, Mr. Bill Paxton. Mayor Paxton has 
been a vital partner of mine in our efforts to bring economic 
development to the Paducah region, improve the quality of life for its 
residents, and represent their interests in public service. Paducah 
could not ask for a finer mayor than Bill Paxton.
  Now it's my sad duty to report to my colleagues that after 12 years 
in office, Mayor Paxton is retiring. And although Kentuckians will miss 
his steady hand at the helm of leadership, no one can say Bill Paxton 
has not given more than his share of dedication and commitment to the 
people of his city. And we all certainly wish him the very best as he 
leaves the mayor's office and moves on to his next endeavors, where I 
am sure he will find much success just as he has in public service.
  It would take too long for me to describe everything we've worked on 
together over the years, but I'll mention a few. For several years we 
worked together to bring economic growth to downtown Paducah with a new 
riverfront marina development. After a long road marked by the 
occasional setback, the Paducah Riverfront and Marina groundbreaking 
ceremony took place last month. The new riverfront will spur job 
creation and serve as a public space for all of Paducah's residents to 
enjoy.
  For years, Mayor Paxton has been indispensable on a host of issues 
affecting the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant and its hard-working 
employees.
  Bill has also been crucial in efforts to create the Paducah River 
Discovery Center, improve the Paducah Area Transit System, and upgrade 
local law-enforcement and safety resources such as the Public Safety 
Mobile Data System, which allows police and other emergency personnel 
to share and coordinate information.
  And I can't forget Bill's leading role in designating the National 
Quilt Museum, located two blocks from the Ohio River in downtown 
Paducah, as the National Quilt Museum of the United States. As one of 
the most popular tourist attractions in the Bluegrass State, it 
regularly brings over 100,000 visitors yearly from all 50 States and 40 
countries.
  One of Bill's biggest successes over the last 12 years is the Lower 
Town revitalization project. Lower Town, a Paducah neighborhood that is 
rich with history but had become dilapidated with neglect, became the 
focus of renewal for city government under the mayor's vision.
  Revitalization efforts focused on creating an awareness of Lower Town 
as a cultural center for the arts and an accessible retail environment 
friendly to local businesses. Now, a decade later, this project has 
been successful, yielding much renovation of local historic buildings 
and new construction, luring more than 75 new artists and businesses to 
Lower Town, and bringing over $30 million in private investment in the 
area.
  Bill was born and raised in Paducah. Prior to serving three terms as 
mayor, he was elected to Paducah's city commission in 1998. It was a 
family tradition, as his father, William F. Paxton Jr., had also served 
on the city commission. As a private citizen, Bill worked for 30 years 
in the banking industry. Bill is also one of the few mayors in Kentucky 
to serve two terms as head of the League of Cities, proving his talents 
are appreciated not just in Paducah but across Kentucky.
  I have been pleased to get to know both Bill and his wife, Lucy, over 
the years and am proud to call them close friends. I am sure that Lucy; 
their two children, Christina Paxton Cassetty and William F. Paxton IV; 
and many other beloved friends and family members join me and Elaine in 
saying we are proud of Bill Paxton's record of accomplishment as mayor, 
and we wish him the best in his well-earned retirement. He is one of 
Kentucky's most distinguished citizens and public servants.

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