[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING WILLIAM ``BILL'' DEAVER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. VINCE FONG

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2025

  Mr. FONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
William ``Bill'' Deaver, a dedicated public servant, journalist, 
veteran, and lifelong champion of East Kern County. Bill passed away on 
May 30, 2025, at the age of 89, still engaged in the political and 
civic life of the region he called home for more than seven decades.
  Bill moved to Mojave, California in 1948. While his career and 
service took him to other places such as Northern California, 
Washington, D.C., and beyond, his heart never left the desert. He 
returned to Mojave time and again, determined to help the community 
grow and thrive. With a deep love for East Kern County, he spent 
decades working to improve local institutions for all residents to 
enjoy.
  Bill was a veteran of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Reserve. 
He brought that same spirit of service to civilian life, including a 
distinguished tenure in the Reagan administration. He later served in 
the administration of President George H.W. Bush, worked for two 
Members of Congress and a California State Assemblyman, and held a seat 
on the California Fair Political Practices Commission. In Mojave, he 
and his wife Billye modernized the Mojave Desert News, cementing its 
role as a trusted local institution. He also served as Constable of 
Mojave, President of the Mojave Chamber of Commerce, and was a longtime 
member of the Kern Press Club.
  Throughout his life, Bill helped shape the institutions that define 
Mojave. He was a founding member of the East Kern Economic Alliance, 
the East Kern Educational Resource Network, and the Mojave 
Transportation Museum. He played a vital role in protecting Edwards Air 
Force Base from closure during multiple rounds of base realignment, and 
as one of the original organizers of the East Kern Medical Center, he 
helped ensure access to healthcare for area residents. Most recently, 
Bill served from 2014 to 2022 on the Board of Directors of the Mojave 
Air and Space Port, where he worked to preserve Mojave's role as a hub 
of aerospace innovation and exploration.
  Bill later moved to Tehachapi to be closer to his sister, Susan 
Wiggins, and her family. However, his love for the desert and his 
commitment to the people of East Kern County never wavered.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Bill Deaver, 
whose life was marked by tireless service and an unwavering devotion to 
community. East Kern and our Nation as a whole are stronger because of 
his contributions, and I have no doubt that his memory will continue to 
inspire future generations.

                          ____________________