[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2890]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO BETTY WILSON

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                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 15, 2000

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, my district lost a veteran community 
leader on Monday with the passing of Betty Wilson, the first woman to 
serve as mayor in Los Angeles County.
  Born in Danville, Illinois on June 13, 1915, Betty Wilson and her 
husband Sterling Wilson moved to Santa Fe Springs in 1949. Working as a 
field deputy for Los Angeles City Council members for 25 years, Betty 
developed a keen understanding of public service. She was actively 
involved in efforts to make Santa Fe Springs a city, and when voters 
approved incorporation in 1957, they also elected her to the city 
council. The council then chose Betty to be the first mayor of Santa Fe 
Springs. As one of the founders of Santa Fe Springs, Betty played a key 
role in shaping the city's mission to be a business community. She 
served on the city council for four decades, retiring in 1997, and also 
served as mayor a total of 11 times.
  Betty's dedication to public service is evident by the number of 
organizations she has been involved with and the awards she has won. 
Betty was Chapter President of the Santa Fe Springs Business and 
Professional Women's Club; a member of the Santa Fe Springs Women's 
Club; Honorary Member of the Soroptimist International of Santa Fe 
Springs; and the Los Angeles County Children's Services Task Force. She 
was President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of 
California Cities, chaired the League's Human Resources Committee and 
served on the League's Revenue and Taxation Committee, Action Plan for 
Local Government Task Force, and Transportation Task Force. In addition 
to being the first woman mayor in Los Angeles County, Betty was the 
first woman to chair the National League of Cities.
  Long active in the Sister City Program, Betty served three terms as 
President; became President Emeritus of the Town Affiliation 
Association of the U.S., Inc. (Sister Cities International); and was 
the Council Liaison to the Santa Fe Springs Sister City Committee, 
Community Program Committee and Beautification Committee.
  Betty chaired the International Municipal Cooperation Committee; 
served as an Executive Committee member of the Southern California 
Joint Powers Insurance Authority; was co-Chair and Council Liaison for 
the Santa Fe Springs Emergency Preparedness Conference for Business and 
Industry; and sat on the Advisory Council for the Salvation Army 
Transitional Living Center in Whittier.
  Betty Wilson's long list of community commitment has been recognized 
by her listing in ``Who's Who in American Women'' and in ``Outstanding 
Civic Leaders of America.'' She was awarded the ``Peace Dollar'' for 
her work in the Sister City Program, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award 
for distinguished service in furtherance of the goals of international 
understanding through participation in the U.S. Sister Cities Program. 
Betty also received the United States Air Force Award for the 
advancement of peace through air power; the California Business and 
Professional Women's Club Civic Award; the National Civic Committee's 
People-to-People award; and the annual Good Scout Award by the Boy 
Scouts of America. Betty and her husband Sterling, who passed away in 
1990, were named the 1985 ``Residential Citizens of the Year'' by the 
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce.
  Betty is survived by her son Robert, daughter Jacqueline, four 
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her family and friends 
will miss her greatly and to them I extend my sincerest heartfelt 
sympathy and pray that they will receive God's comforting graces in 
abundance.

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