[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING BOB AND TERRY WITMER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2023

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob and Terry Witmer 
for receiving the honor of the Dr. Bettye Myers Humanitarian Award. 
Terry has spent her life in North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has 
a nursing career that expands 20 years. In 2014, Terry oversaw the 
housing component of the Denton County Behavioral Health Leadership 
Team. Two years later, Terry became the charter appointee for the 
Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team. She has been a long-time 
advocate for the homeless community in North Texas and has made a 
profound impact on improving the livelihoods of those citizens that 
have been affected. Both she and her husband, Bob, have been active 
members of the Denton Community for decades and they helped form vital 
nonprofits in Denton County such as The Daily Bread, which serves food 
to individuals in need. They have served on numerous boards of 
nonprofits. Bob is a board-certified tax attorney and currently serves 
as a professor at the University of North Texas. In 2016, he started 
the North Texas Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. This clinic allowed local 
graduate students to assist lower-income members of the community with 
specialized and qualified tax assistance. This provided a wonderful 
opportunity to members of the community and helped graduate students 
gain experience before applying to bigger employers. Bob has not only 
been a valuable part of educating the younger generation in North 
Texas, but he has been involved in Veterans Affairs. Terry referred 
Veteran clients to Bob's clinic from the Veteran Community Navigator 
pilot program. When Bob learned from Terry that clients of the VCN 
program were working in crowded, unsuitable offices, he contacted 
Veterans Affairs and mobilized a community effort with donations and 
volunteers to renovate the office into what is now known as the Denton 
County Veteran Center. This center provides critical and quality care 
to all Veterans who are in need. These actions are remarkable, yet Bob 
did not stop there. He went on to mobilize the community to help the 
United Way of Denton County create the Veterans Mental Health Annex, 
which expands access to mental health services for veterans. These 
incredible actions have not gone unnoticed. In November of 2022, they 
were recognized by the Board Members of the United Way of Denton for 
their efforts and impact on helping those affected by homelessness and 
mental health in their community, especially veterans. The Witmer's 
have invested their time and talent into serving their community. I am 
honored to recognize Bob and Terry's achievements today and I am 
humbled to share a home in North Texas with this couple of such high 
character. Bob and Terry's family, their community, their state, and 
their nation are made better by their selfless contributions and 
dedication to others. I thank Bob and Terry Witmer, for their excellent 
work, and also thank the United Way of Denton County Board of Directors 
for recognizing them for the Dr. Bettye Myers Humanitarian Award of 
2023.

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