[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF BILLIE SUE HOGGARD

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                     HON. ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2020

  Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of 
my close friend Billie Sue Hoggard, who passed away on Sunday evening. 
Billie Sue was a lifelong public servant, a political pioneer, and a 
devout follower of the Lord. She brightened every room she entered, had 
a wonderful sense of humor, and a truly unmistakable laugh.
  Billie Sue was a nationally board-certified teacher. Generations of 
students in Jonesboro, across five decades and four schools, were 
blessed to find themselves in her classroom. She was selected for three 
international teaching exchanges by the University of Arkansas at 
Little Rock, teaching in China, Japan, and Mexico. Her passion for 
teaching could not be extinguished--she came out of a well-deserved 
retirement just a few years ago to go back to the classroom.
  Billie Sue's service to her community extended to public office. She 
was appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee as Justice of the Peace on the 
Craighead County Quorum Court and as the Commissioner for the Arkansas 
Educational Television Network. She was later elected by the people of 
the county to continue her service on the Quorum Court. She was an 
active member of many civil service organizations, including the 
American Legion Auxiliary, Lion's Club, and countless education 
advocacy groups.
  Billie Sue was a groundbreaking pioneer of conservatism in Arkansas. 
In the era of the ``yellow dog democrat,'' Billie Sue was unabashedly 
Republican. She ran for State Representative in Northeast Arkansas as a 
Republican at a time in which it was unheard of to do so. While she did 
not win her election to state office, I believe it is safe to say that 
without her, Eastern Arkansas would not be the conservative bastion it 
is today. Under her leadership of the Craighead County Republican Party 
from 2010 to 2018, the county flipped all legislative seats and well 
over half of county wide offices. She was awarded the ``Hi, I'm Frank 
White'' Award in 2017, the highest distinction given by the Arkansas 
GOP.
  Billie Sue was a living proof that with passion, tenacity, and a 
tireless work ethic, an individual can accomplish anything. She put it 
best when she said, ``I am personally convinced that one person can be 
a change catalyst, a transformer in any situation, any organization. 
Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires 
vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith 
to be a transforming leader.''
  I know today that Billie Sue Hoggard left this Earth proud of her 
litany of accomplishments and the positive transformations she made in 
Arkansas. Billie Sue is survived by her children, Tammy, Kayla, Jess, 
and Tim, and grandchildren Meagan, Dane, Maxwell, Emma, Bella, Kate, 
and Jesslyn. I ask Congress to join me in offering condolences to 
Billie Sue's family, and commemorating the life and achievements of an 
incredible leader and servant.

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