[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF RITA WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2013

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rita Williams, an 
exceptional journalist whose image and voice have been beamed into Bay 
Area living rooms for four decades. She is retiring from KTVU after 35 
years at the station.
   Rita is a top-notch reporter and superb story teller. I know from 
first-hand experience that she is fair, professional and that she won't 
give any elected official a pass. Rita has earned the adoration and 
admiration from her colleagues, her interviewees and her viewers.
   But don't just take my word for it; this is what other people are 
saying: Greg Suhr, the San Francisco Police Chief says, ``If there was 
a ``how to'' book on how to be the most gracious fair objective ``cool 
under fire'' reporter in the world, Rita Williams' picture would be on 
the cover.'' Ed Chapuis, her news director for over 10 years says, 
``Her stories were always the hardest for her editors to edit, because 
each word was placed with such purpose and precision.'' Bill Drummond, 
journalist and husband of the late Faith Fancher, Rita's long-time 
friend and colleague, says, ``With Rita the reporting came first, and 
because of that commitment, her stories transcended the usual 
limitations of the television news medium.''
   Rita grew up in Lubbock, Texas. She was the first in her family to 
earn a college degree. After she graduated from Texas Tech University 
with a B.A. in journalism, she worked as the press secretary for the 
late Texas Congressman George Mahon, Chairman of the House 
Appropriations Committee. She then earned her Master's degree in 
political science/international affairs from George Washington 
University. Rita worked as a news reporter at KSAT-TV in Texas from 
1975-1978 and then moved to California. She was a reporter for KQED-TV 
before she joined KTVU in 1980. From 1985-86, she was also a Knight 
Fellow and taught broadcast news writing at Stanford.
   When Rita entered the broadcast world, it was dominated by men. 
Surviving and even thriving in this testosterone-driven environment was 
no small accomplishment, but Rita did it with grace and tenacity. She 
calls herself the ``first broadcast broad.'' She opened KTVU's San 
Francisco bureau in the Hall of Justice.
   Rita has reported thousands of social, economic and political 
stories, treating each one as the most important story at the time. Her 
work has earned her several Emmies, Tellies, a PASS award from the 
National Council on Crime and Delinquency, a public service award from 
the Society of Professional Journalists and many other awards. She was 
one of the lead investigative reporters in the Oakland BART shooting 
stories that contributed to a prestigious Peabody award and Edward R. 
Murrow award to KTVU.
   While Rita takes utmost pride in her profession and work, she views 
her family as her biggest accomplishment. Rita and her husband of 37 
years, Lindsey, are the proud parents of Brad who is now a law student 
in San Francisco. Brad and my children grew up around the same time, so 
Rita and I often compared notes and shared school referral options.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor one of the finest journalists and human beings I know. On her 
last day on the air at KTVU, Rita humbly thanked her viewers and said, 
``You have entrusted me with one of the biggest responsibilities 
anybody could ever have, to be a reporter and to be your eyes and ears.
   I hope that I have used that trust well and that you have learned 
something in return.'' The answer to that hope is a resounding yes!

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