[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING BILLIE JO MEDDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. VINCE FONG

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2026

  Mr. FONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 95th birthday of 
Billie Jo Medders and to recognize her lifetime of steadfast service to 
the Bakersfield community.
  Born on March 8, 1931, in Indianola, Mississippi, Billie Jo graduated 
from Indianola High School, where her interest in civic life first took 
shape. As a senior, she was selected as a delegate to Mississippi 
Girls' State and was elected lieutenant governor, an experience 
sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary that foreshadowed a lifetime 
of engagement in public affairs. She went on to attend Delta State 
University in Cleveland, where she met her husband, Clarence Medders, 
and began a lifelong partnership rooted in service.
  In 1956, Billie Jo and Clarence relocated to Bakersfield, joining the 
Bakersfield City School District and making our community their 
permanent home. Together, they raised their daughters, Emily and 
Pamela, while investing deeply in the civic and educational life of 
Kern County. Clarence devoted 44 years to education as a teacher, 
counselor, and principal. Billie Jo also served the district for 13 
years as a school secretary.
  As Billie Jo's family took root in Bakersfield, so too did her public 
service. She joined Assemblyman Thomas's staff as a part-time aide and, 
following his election to Congress, continued in his Bakersfield office 
as a caseworker and eventually director of constituent services. Over 
the course of 29 years, she assisted countless constituents in 
navigating complex federal agencies, exemplifying the vital role 
district offices play in responsive government.
  I worked directly with Billie Jo for many years as a field 
representative in the district I now have the honor of representing in 
Congress. During that time, she demonstrated that constituent services 
is about serving people with diligence, integrity, and respect. She 
made clear that every issue--from veterans' benefits to immigration 
casework to small business assistance--deserved urgency, careful 
attention, and professionalism. That standard continues to guide how I 
approach the responsibilities of this office and how I serve 
California's 20th Congressional District today.
  In addition to her government service, Billie Jo remained engaged in 
the broader nonprofit and civic community. Her decades of involvement 
have strengthened local institutions and reflected her enduring 
commitment to Bakersfield's families and seniors. In recognition of 
that commitment, she was recently honored by Family-to-Family 
Mentoring, a division of Garden Pathways, Inc., with the ``Heart for 
Bakersfield'' award--an apt description of her life's work. Today, she 
enjoys time with her seven grandchildren, along with traveling, 
reading, gathering with friends, and adding to her well-known elephant 
collection.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Billie Jo 
Medders for her decades of service and for the example she continues to 
set in our community.

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