[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 112 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF PHIL WALTON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2017

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Phil Walton, who 
is retiring from public service after a remarkable 42 year career with 
the Social Security Administration. Mr. Walton exemplifies the sterling 
qualities of a public servant who upholds the highest standards of 
federal service: one of a loyal and enlightened corps of highly 
trained, honorable civil servants. The administrative capabilities of 
individuals like Mr. Walton hold this Republic together.
  Phil Walton began his career with the Social Security Administration 
in Rock Island, Illinois, where he started as a claims representative. 
He soon began rising through the ranks as a field representative, 
operations supervisor, operations officer, area administrative 
assistant, executive assistant and district manager. He was first named 
District Manager in Chillicothe, Ohio, moving to Toledo, Ohio in 1993 
where he has ably guided the Toledo agency since.
  In addition to his leadership of the Toledo Social Security Office, 
Phil has been an active community leader since his arrival to the 
Toledo area. He served as a Cubmaster, Den Leader and Area Commissioner 
for the Boy Scouts of America. He has been a member of the Friends of 
Wood County CASA, currently serving as Board Chair. He has also served 
on the Advisory Board of the Toledo Legal Aid Society.
  As a member of the National Council of Social Security Management 
Associations, Phil was awarded the Public Service Award in 2009 ``in 
recognition of his years of volunteer work.'' Erin Thompson, public 
affairs specialist for the Toledo Social Security Office, stated, ``We 
would like to take the time to thank Phil Walton for his 42 years of 
service with Social Security, where he started as a Claims 
Representative in 1975 in Rock Island, Illinois and completes his 
career as a District Manager of Toledo downtown, where he has been 
since 1993. In addition to leading the Toledo office, he has been on 
numerous boards, most notable as the Chairperson for the Area Office on 
Aging 2009 to the present. In addition to his service for seniors, he 
has also served as Board President for the Friends of Wood County CASA 
from 2007 to present.''
  Phil has given of his time and talents to the Area Office on Aging of 
Northwest Ohio Board of Directors, serving in various capacities since 
1993 and as Board President since 2009. Billie Johnson, President and 
CEO of the agency, notes ``Phil Walton has been a dedicated Board 
member of the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc. for more 
than twenty years. His leadership, compassion and wisdom helped the 
agency grow and develop many vital services for older adults, 
caregivers and disabled persons living in northwest Ohio. Phil helped 
the agency navigate through several monumental funding challenges. He 
has given his time, personal resources and energy to so many people and 
various communities in northwest Ohio. We are extremely grateful for 
his commitment, dedication and leadership. Phil is the current Board 
Chairman for the Area Office on Aging.''
  American labor leader Walter Reuther said, ``There is no greater 
calling than to serve your fellow men. There is no greater contribution 
than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have 
done it well.'' Phil Walton's life and career have been given over to 
serving his fellow citizens, to helping the weakest among us--those who 
are elderly, those who are disabled, children. He has done it very 
well. His legacy is in the lives which were made better for his 
efforts, in those with whom he worked to ensure a top-notch federal 
government agency and services, in the organizations which have 
benefitted from his investment and leadership, and a community richer 
for his contributions. On this day as Phil turns the page from career 
to retirement, we offer a most heartfelt ``thank you'' for his 
extraordinary commitment to our nation and its people. As he ends his 
public life and looks toward retirement, he has fulfilled Mohammad 
Ali's call that ``Service to others is the payment you make for your 
space here on earth.''

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