[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING MAYOR WILLIAM ``BILL'' BOGAARD ON HIS RETIREMENT

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                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2015

  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
outstanding community leader, William ``Bill'' Bogaard, on his 
retirement as the Mayor of the City of Pasadena. After nearly four 
decades in public service including his 16 years as Mayor, Bill Bogaard 
leaves behind a legacy of respected leadership and dedicated public 
service.
   Bill graduated from Loyola Marymount University and then heeded his 
first call to public service when he bravely served to protect our 
country as a U.S. Air Force Captain. He went on to Michigan Law School, 
and in 1971, Bill and his wife Claire moved to Pasadena, where they 
began a lovely family with their four children.
   From 1978 to 1986, Bill served on the Pasadena City Council, 
including a rotation into the mayoral position for a two-year term from 
1984 to 1986. The City Council changed its charter and in 1999, Bill 
became the City's first directly-elected Mayor. He served as Mayor for 
the opening of the Los Angeles to Pasadena Gold Line Light rail system 
and advocated for its expansion east as a Board member of the Gold Line 
Foothill Construction Authority. Bill also had a vision to revitalize 
neighborhoods surrounding the Gold Line stations, and through the 
City's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, he encouraged transit-oriented 
and affordable housing developments. These initiatives opened access to 
public transportation for thousands of residents in Pasadena and 
modernized several neighborhoods throughout the City.
   In addition, Bill's efforts successfully kept Pasadena on the 
nation's map. He helped facilitate a new convention center that has 
attracted a wide variety of conferences to the City, exposing different 
industries to Pasadena and the resources of our local communities. He 
brought improvements such as an updated electrical system and 
additional aisles and accommodations to the nationally recognized Rose 
Bowl, which is home to the University of California-Los Angeles 
football team and the Rose Bowl Game. His work kept this stadium as a 
viable venue for so many historic games and events that have brought 
nationwide attention to the City each year.
   In 2012, Bill's exceptional leadership abilities were recognized 
throughout the state, and he was elected by his fellow local elected 
officials as President of the League of California Cities. The City of 
Pasadena and the State of California are grateful to have had such a 
passionate and engaged public servant. We will continue to honor his 
legacy of community investment and revitalization, and we are thankful 
for his many years of strong leadership and unwavering commitment to 
our community.

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