[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF BILL KREITLEIN

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                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, a true friend of veterans in the State of 
Alabama, Bill Kreitlein, is retiring after many years of loyal service 
in my district office in Birmingham. On this occasion I would like to 
bring to the attention of the House of Representatives his dedicated 
work on behalf of our men and women in uniform as well as the entirety 
of his service to the district.
  Bill was one of the first people I asked to join my district office 
staff when I was originally elected in 1992. He has been a primary 
liaison for my constituents to a variety of federal agencies. Bill has 
served two ``tours of duty'' as a permanent full-time employee and more 
recently as an invaluable part-time staff member. His personal style 
has been to work in a respectful and determined way to try to solve 
problems for people.
  As a member of the Alabama National Guard from 1966 to 1972, Bill was 
the natural choice to handle military and veterans affairs issues in my 
district office. The members of our military, their families, and 
veterans have greatly benefited from his concern, diligence, and 
effectiveness. He has worked tirelessly to help veterans obtain 
rightfully-earned benefits, health care, and military honors and to 
address challenges facing active duty members. Bill's unique blend of 
maturity, experience, and insight has provided relief and comfort to 
many military families during times of great distress. As a result, 
Bill is held in the highest regard by veterans groups in the Birmingham 
region and the State of Alabama.
  Bill is a native son of Alabama, having been born in Mobile on May 
11, 1941. After attending high school in Pensacola, Florida, he 
received his bachelor's degree from Livingston State College in 
Livingston, Alabama. Like many conservatives of his generation, he 
began his involvement in politics during the presidential campaign of 
Barry Goldwater in 1964. He has been active on the Republican State 
Executive Committee in Alabama, run for the Jefferson County School 
Board, and worked on my first campaign for Congress.
  Because of his unwavering devotion and steadfast pursuit of 
excellence in his duties, Bill has been a great asset to me and the 
people of the Sixth District. The quality most associated with Bill by 
anyone who has come in contact with him on either a professional or 
personal basis is ``kindness.'' He has demonstrated how to achieve 
success by living out one's faith and principles and by treating all 
individuals with respect and decency, and that is a wonderful and 
satisfying legacy to have established during a distinguished career in 
public service.

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