[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H9101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING BILL PICKETT

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bill Pickett 
of Danville, Illinois, who is celebrating 50 years of reporting the 
news for Neuhoff Media.
  Having recently graduated from Danville High School in 1968, Bill 
became one of the youngest newsmen in the business at 17 years of age. 
It wasn't very long after he started that Bill went live with his first 
story: an explosion at the grain elevator in Danville. Bill witnessed 
the fireball erupting and the walls of the elevator slowly crumble into 
a heap of debris. All that night, Bill provided live updates on the 
disaster. As the fire subsided, it became apparent to Bill that he had 
found his calling.
  Over the past half century, Bill has gone from answering phones to 
being the news director for several news outlets. His duties require 
him to act as investigative reporter, news gatherer, copy editor, and 
broadcaster.
  Mr. Speaker, many voices have been raised in recognition of Bill's 
remarkable career, and I am pleased to be able to add my own to the 
chorus. I wish Bill and Neuhoff Media all the best in the future as we 
celebrate Mr. Bill Pickett's 50 years in radio.

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