[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF THE HONORABLE WILLIAM W. ``BILL'' BLANTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2014

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Bill 
Blanton who passed away on April 4, 2014. It was my privilege to have 
known Bill for over thirty years. He was a long standing pillar of the 
Carrollton, Texas community and will be greatly missed.
  Bill was born March 11, 1924 and leaves behind a lasting legacy to 
his community and country. He served his country in the U.S. Army Air 
Corps, and then would serve his local community and Texas for many 
years thereafter. Bill served on the Carrollton/Farmers Branch 
Independent School District Board for ten years and then would continue 
his service to the community as their elected representative to the 
Texas House of Representatives. Bill served in the Texas House of 
Representatives from 1977 to 1987. During his service in Austin, Bill 
continued his commitment to improving the lives of our students by 
serving as the Chairman of the Public Education Committee. In 1986, the 
Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce honored Bill as the ``Citizen of the 
Year.'' Upon Bill's retirement from the Texas House of Representatives, 
I was honored to succeed him in Austin. Throughout all of his service 
to the community, many will remember him forever from one of their 
first times to hear Bill--as the voice of Carrollton High School on 
Friday evenings. Bill served as the voice of the Carrollton High School 
football team during the 1950s and 1960s on their old football field 
which now belongs to DeWitt Perry Junior High School.
  The people of Carrollton will continue to benefit from the legacy of 
Bill and the entire Blanton family for many years to come. The Old 
Downtown Square in Carrollton features the Blanton Grain Tower. The 
Blanton Grain Tower serves as a tribute to the rich history and 
original roots of Carrollton and many other North Texas cities. 
Originally Carrollton was a town which served as a collection of many 
small and large family farms which fed into the great grain-growing 
plains of Middle America. Though many grain towers that were essential 
for the storage and distribution of grain have since been demolished or 
relocated to rural areas, the Blanton Grain Tower still stands and 
thrives in the heart of Carrollton. Long since closed for its original 
purpose, the Blanton Grain Tower was redesigned to now be billed as the 
world's largest indoor climbing gym. Ten giant grain silos with 110 
foot ceilings will continue to challenge indoor rock climbers for years 
to come. For many years Bill worked for the family grain company--while 
at the same time being an active member of Lion's Club, Rotary Club, 
and the Carrollton Chamber of Commerce. So many have been touched by 
Bill, and many will continue to benefit from his legacy.
  My heartfelt condolences are with the Blanton family at this 
difficult time. Bill was a loving husband to his wife Clovis, father of 
four, grandfather of five, and a great-grandfather of seven.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in paying tribute 
to the lasting legacy and public service of William W. Blanton.

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