[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 26572-26573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           TRIBUTE TO CARL R. HILLIARD, ``ONE CAPITOL FELLOW''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 1999

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I honor a 
dedicated man and his career. In his thirty plus years of covering the 
Colorado Capitol for the Associated Press, Carl Hilliard proved himself 
to be a man of truth and integrity. During that time, I'm glad to say 
that I was fortunate to get to know him well.
  His colleagues knew him as a man who cared not about being in the 
limelight, but a man who took the time to get to know the story and the 
people behind it. Hilliard is a man of the West, a Renaissance man. His 
columns frequently recieved a lot of exposure throughout the country 
and rightfully so. They were wity, informative, and revealing. You 
could always count on Carl to be critical of the politicians at the 
Capitol, but at the same time compassionate and duteous.
  As the dean of the Capitol Press corps, he was effective in reporting 
Capitol news. That role earned him a very laudable honor, being named 
as one Denver's 100 most influential journalists and the respect of his 
fellow journalists.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I honor this man who will truly be 
missed by his colleagues and those that enjoyed reading his column. For 
so many years, he has been a role model for young journalists and a 
pilar form which all journalists drew inspiration. I wish him well in 
his much deserved retirement. I look forward to continuing my 
friendship with him in the future.

            CELEBRATING THE MINISTRY OF DR. JOHN R. BISAGNO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 21, 1999

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and 
help celebrate the ministry of Dr. John R. Bisagno. After 30 years, Dr. 
Bisagno will be retiring from Houston's First Baptist Church.
  John Bisagno was born on April 5, 1943 in Augusta, KS. He is married 
to Uldine Beck Bisagno. The Bisagnos have three children, Ginger 
Bisagno Dodd, Anthony Bisagno, and Timothy Bisagno, and five 
grandchildren.
  Dr. Bisagno graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and received a 
doctor of letters degree from Southwest Missouri Baptist University and 
a doctor of divinity degree from Houston Baptist University, where the 
``Chair of Evangelism'' is named in his honor.
  In February 1970, Dr. Bisagno became the pastor of the 22,000-member 
First Baptist Church of Houston. He has authored 24 books, including 
the best seller ``The Power of Positive Praying.'' He is the past 
president of the Southern Baptist Pastor's Conference and has gained 
national attention as a dynamic and effective crusade evangelist and 
Bible

[[Page 26573]]

teacher. He was the first preacher on the Southern Baptist ACTS 
television network.
  During the 30 years of Dr. Bisagno's ministry at First Baptist 
Church, the church relocated from downtown Houston, purchased property 
near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Loop 610 in Houston, built a 
worship center and education buildings now valued in excess of $60 
million and continues to be an integral part of the dynamics of 
Houston, TX.
  Dr. Bisagno has announced that he will retire from the pulpit on 
Sunday, November 21, 1999. However, I am certain that John Bisagno will 
continue to be a Christian committed to spreading the gospel. When he 
retires from Houston's First Baptist Church, he retires to continue to 
be a significant part of the faith community in Houston, in Texas, in 
the United States, and around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. John R. 
Bisagno.

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