[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15537]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       TRIBUTE TO BILL G. MASTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NICK LAMPSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2000

  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the outstanding 
career of Mr. Bill G. Masters, who is retiring this year after 35 years 
of distinguished service with the Port of Beaumont. Stretching over 4 
decades, Mr. Masters' entire career has had a wide-ranging impact 
across a broad spectrum of important local concerns as well as vital 
national interests.
  Before contributing his valuable assets to the Port of Beaumont, Mr. 
Masters served our Nation proudly in the Marine Corps and then achieved 
a degree in accounting. Soon after, Mr. Masters worked for 6 years in 
the Golden Triangle on waterfront jobs. Joining the port in 1965, Mr. 
Masters secured his first job as an assistant dock superintendent. He 
began to prove himself as a great asset to the port and rapidly 
ascended the ranks of the port administration. In 1986, Mr. Masters was 
enthusiastically appointed by his peers to the position of port 
director.
  Mr. Masters has led the Port of Beaumont into years of unprecedented 
growth. This vast expansion includes a steep growth in the amount of 
cargo handled, doubling the size of both revenue cargo and total cargo 
handled by the port. In addition, under Mr. Masters' direction, the 
port has widened its cargo base to include a countless number of new 
commodities. The port has also grown in space, with the addition of 27 
acres since Mr. Masters' appointment.
  Mr. Masters' ability to achieve his innovative ideas has greatly 
benefited the Port of Beaumont. Its newly completed rail-to-ship 
transfer has propelled the Port of Beaumont into one of our Nation's 
most vital ports.
  Quickly after becoming the director of the Port of Beaumont, Mr. 
Masters began garnering national recognition of his achievements. Mr. 
Masters was elected president of both the Gulf Ports Association and 
the Texas Ports Association in 1991. Currently, Mr. Masters serves on 
the American Association of Port Authorities as a member of their 
National Defense Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bill G. Masters' career is ripe with countless 
examples of selfless hard work and extraordinary accomplishment in 
service to our great Nation. His contributions to Southeast Texas are 
immeasurable. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Bill G. Masters 
and his family a pleasurable and well-deserved retirement.
  Congratulations, Mr. Masters, on a job well done.

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