[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING A GIANT OF PUTNAM COUNTY

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                        HON. ALEXANDER X. MOONEY

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2019

  Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Madam Speaker, I would like to include 
in the Record the following obituary for Mr. Bill O'Dell of Putnam 
County:

   Friends and Family Honoring Community Leader in Putnam County Who 
                          Suddenly Passed Away

                           (By Taylor Eaton)

       Putnam County, W.Va. (WSAZ).--A man who dedicated his life 
     to preventing teen substance abuse in Putnam County passed 
     away suddenly on Monday.
       Bill O'Dell was a community leader in many ways. He 
     dedicated his life to substance abuse prevention across West 
     Virginia.
       O'Dell passed away while he was swimming in the pool at the 
     YMCA in Teays Valley. Friends and family say he suffered a 
     medical emergency.
       Most of his work was centered in Putnam County. O'Dell was 
     the director of the Putnam Wellness Coalition, a group that 
     was formed to educate teenagers about the dangers of alcohol 
     and drugs.
       O'Dell spent his time going into schools to speak to 
     students, setting up fundraising events for the coalition and 
     participating in different promotions around prom and 
     graduation time. That's just to name a few.
       Evan Young, who worked with O'Dell for many years, says 
     they just wrapped up an event for Cinco de Mayo over the 
     weekend that was geared toward making sure kids had a safe 
     and fun environment. Most of the proceeds from the event went 
     to the Putnam Wellness Coalition.

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