[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16045]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM RUSSELL MOTE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, a friend of mine died this past 
week. His name was William Russell Mote. He was not only my friend, he 
was the Members', too, and a friend of all Americans, as well. As a 
matter of fact, he was a friend to people all over the world.
  I would like to tell the Members why. Bill Mote was born in my State 
of Florida in the city of Tampa at the turn of the century. The world 
was a far different place for Bill Mote back in the early part of the 
last century. Teddy Roosevelt was President. There was a world without 
jet planes, without television. No man had flown in space. It was a 
world that encouraged a young boy to go fishing in the beautiful waters 
of the Gulf of Mexico.
  It was also a time that encouraged entrepreneurs, and Bill Mote took 
full advantage. He could not wait to venture out into the world and 
start his own business. While he never earned a college degree, Bill 
Mote was a well-educated individual whose charisma and charm paved him 
a very successful path in the business world.
  Mr. Mote's love for the world extended far beyond the realm of his 
exciting business ventures. He loved the adventure of travel and the 
excitement of the sea. He visited many places after he sold his 
company, and concentrated on trips that would enable him to be with 
marine scientists, oceanographers, and biologists.
  Bill recognized very early on that irresponsible global habits were 
endangering his beloved sea. What a shame it would be that we would be 
destroying one of our two unexplored frontiers; a vast one at that, 
covering three-fourths of the world. To Bill Mote, that was just as 
exciting as man landing on the moon. Discovering and protecting our 
oceans became his passion.
  It is not surprising to people who knew Bill to understand how his 
passion was superseded only by his generosity in his goal. He 
definitely put his money where his heart was. He met Eugenie Clark. 
Some may know her as the famous ``shark lady'' on PBS nature shows.
  Bill and Dr. Clark started a partnership that would last over 35 
years, and would be the root of Mr. Mote's philanthropic mission to 
save our oceans. Always drawn to the water, he settled on the West 
Coast of Florida, in Sarasota, with the intent to build a marine 
laboratory. He used what he learned from his travels and joined Dr. 
Clark in establishing one of the finest marine laboratories in the 
world.
  When Mr. Mote discovered Cape Haze Laboratory in 1965, he immediately 
set his mind into catapulting the small marine research facility into a 
world-renowned program. Henceforth, the Mote Marine Laboratory, named 
after its principal benefactor, has been the catalyst for breeding and 
mammal programs which benefit sea life all over the world.
  The lab first became known internationally for shark research, and in 
1991, Congress designated Mote Marine Laboratory as the National Center 
for Shark Research. Bill Mote, who himself never had the opportunity of 
higher education, initiated a Scholar Chair in Fisheries Ecology and 
Enhancement at Florida State University.
  He also encouraged younger people to become interested in marine 
life. Schoolchildren were exposed to the smallest creatures as well as 
the magnificent sharks and dolphins at Mote Marine Laboratories 
Aquarium. A new state of the art Marine Mammal Rescue Center gives all 
visitors a first-hand look at the expert veterinary care that Mote's 
Marine biologists provide.
  Bill will always be remembered as a promoter of education, as well as 
an excellent educator himself. He was at the helm when the Jason 
Project began at Mote Marine. That was developed as an educational 
venture between Dr. Ballard and Mote Marine. Dr. Ballard is using Jason 
and Jason II remote submersibles, credited with the discoveries of the 
Titanic, the Bismarck, and other landmark discoveries beneath the 
depths of our oceans. Mr. Mote was constantly expanding the depths of 
our understanding, even to the bottom of the sea.
  Even larger than his love of the oceans was his love for education. 
He gave not only to the studies of marine biology and oceanography, but 
also relentlessly promoted the fields to youth and professionals alike 
with his own special blend of enthusiasm. In 1968, Mr. Mote was awarded 
the Gold Medal of the International Oceanographic Foundation.
  Many of us who knew Bill Mote have our own stories to tell. After 
meeting a person like Bill, his energetic and passionate love for the 
ocean was magnetic. His relentless drive passion and vigor was rivaled 
only by his charismatic personality.
  Bill Mote was to all of us and will remain in our hearts a true 
example of what one person can do with a little determination.
  I served on the board of Mote Marine before I came to Congress. I had 
the pleasure of knowing Bill Mote well. He was a devoted husband and 
brother. He was a counselor to marine biologists. He was a teacher to 
all ages of students. Most of all, he was a true conservationist, a 
self-educated man who saw a need in the world and went ahead to do 
something about it. He definitely graduated life with honors.

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