[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E888-E889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING WILLIAM E. THRASH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2013

  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
life of Kennesaw City Councilman William E. ``Bill'' Thrash, and thank 
him for his service to country and community.
   After a long battle with cancer, Bill passed away on May 22.
   A native of Texas, Thrash grew up in Oklahoma before serving in the 
U.S. Army during Vietnam, and the Colorado National Guard. After his 
service, he attended nursing school and was an EMT/paramedic in his 
early career before moving into the security management business.
   In 1992, Thrash moved to Kennesaw and began looking to ways that he 
could serve the community. He served on the Kennesaw Development 
Authority, the Downtown Development Authority, the Recreation and 
Culture Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission before his 
election to city council in 2001. At the time of his passing, he was 
serving his third term after being re-elected in 2010, and being named 
Mayor Pro-Tem in 2011.

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   Thrash was a role model and community leader, he served in the 
Georgia Municipal and Cobb Municipal associations, and his service to 
the National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and 
Families, Thrash was named Citizen of the Year by the Northwest Cobb 
Area Council of the Chamber of Commerce and the Kennesaw Business 
Association.
   His colleagues and friends will always remember Thrash as someone 
who loved public service and was particularly passionate about creating 
programs for young people to thrive in the community. He is credited as 
being the driving force behind an after-school recreational program for 
at-risk teens, and for the development of Cantrell Park.
   Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to William E. Thrash's 
wife Suzie, his daughter Mandy, and sons Robbie and Billy during these 
most difficult of times. It saddens me to know that the world is 
missing an honorable and dedicated man, but I am humbled to know that 
he is now in a better place.

                          ____________________