[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             A TRIBUTE TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DILLINGHAM III

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kuykendall). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor one of 
the most outstanding citizens of San Diego, California.
  Benjamin Franklin Dillingham III, or Ben as he is known to his many 
friends in San Diego, will be honored this Sunday at a community 
tribute banquet in San Diego. A community leader and philanthropist; 
former chief of staff to our mayor, Maureen O'Connor; a captain in the 
United States Marine Corps; Ben is currently serving as chief financial 
officer for Patient Care Incorporated, reflecting his deep interest in 
providing quality health care for all.
  Ben was born in Honolulu, a fourth generation islander. His father, 
Ben II, was the general manager of the Oahu Railway and Land Company. 
His mother, Frances Andrews, is the daughter of Vice Admiral and Mrs. 
Adolphus Andrews of Denison, Texas.
  Ben received his B.A. degree cum laude and his master's in business 
administration both from Harvard University. Upon graduation from 
Harvard Business School with distinction, he was commissioned a second 
lieutenant in the Marine Corps; and while in Vietnam, he was promoted 
to first lieutenant.
  When he returned to the United States, he began training recruits at 
Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and was promoted to captain 
while at MCRD. He was given orders to Advanced Armor School conducted 
by the United States Army at Fort Knox and graduated, typically, at the 
top of his class before returning to duty with the Marines. Ben 
finished his service as a division training officer and then drove 
across country to establish residence in San Diego, California.
  Here in San Diego, he was recognized as a true community leader. 
Prior to his work as chief of staff for the mayor, he also worked for 
General Dynamics, Convair Division, and the Metropolitan Transit 
Development Board.
  Mr. Speaker, his service to the community is broad and spans a number 
of organizations. He has served as a member of the Marine Corps 
Association, the United States Armor Association, the Navy League, the 
Hawaiian Mission Children's Society, the Center for Social Services, 
the Greater San Diego Business Association, the Metropolitan Community 
Church of San Diego, the United Way, the Diversity Committee, the San 
Diego Human Dignity Foundation, the San Diego Scholarship Foundation, 
and the County AIDS Service Advisory Panel.
  He has been a board chair of the AIDS Foundation of San Diego and the 
County of San Diego AIDS Services Advisory Panel, and he has served as 
a board member of the Episcopal Community Services, L.I.F.E. 
Foundation, AIDS Project, and the San Diego Scholarship Foundation.
  Aside from all of these memberships and board leaderships, he has 
numerous honors from across the city. His military awards include the 
Bronze Star Medal with Combat ``V'' for Vietnam Service and the Army 
Commendation Medal at the Armor Officer Advance Course at Fort Knox. 
His civilian recognition includes Man of the Year, the San Diego 
Lesbian/Gay Pride Festival; the Human Rights Campaign Fund Crystal 
Torch Award; the Log Cabin Club Pursuit of Happiness Award; the Brad 
Truax Presidential Award; the Stan Berry Award; and the Harvey Milk 
Memorial Award at the Nickys; the Harvey Milk Democratic Club Human 
Rights Award, and the San Diego AIDS Project Celebration of Life Award.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank Ben Dillingham 
III for his tenacity in the fight for progressive causes; his 
commitment to the struggle for human rights; his belief in the 
importance of access to government, education, and health care for 
every member of our society; his outstanding service to the City of San 
Diego; and his significant contribution to our community as a whole.
  Mr. Speaker, I am truly proud to call Ben my friend.

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