[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1026]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   HONORING BILL NORTH, PRESIDENT, JURUPA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication to the community and to the overall well-
being of California's Inland Empire and the nation is unparalleled. The 
Inland Empire has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated business 
and community leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and 
talent to making their communities a better place to live and work. Mr. 
Bill North is one of these individuals.
  On January 27, 2001, Bill North was honored by the Jurupa Valley 
Chamber of Commerce during his installation dinner, not only for being 
the singular individual in the Chamber's history to serve three 
consecutive terms but also for his life-long service to the community 
and our country. In 1989, Bill and his wife, Debbie, joined the Chamber 
of Commerce as the owners of Eagle One Security. In those 12 years they 
have given time and time again, and are still at it.
  Bill North's life is a testament to the founding principles of our 
great nation. One of twelve children born in Cawood, Kentucky, Bill 
grew up working in tobacco fields and on his family farm. At only 
seventeen he enlisted in the United States Army, training with the 
British Commandos to become an Airborne Ranger. As a soldier he fought 
in more than his share of battles, including: Normandy, the Battle of 
the Bulge, the Rhineland, Northern Europe and Central Europe Campaigns. 
His bravery and heroism earned him a Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, a 
Presidential Citation, two Purple Hearts and many other citations. The 
war not only introduced him to seemingly impossible challenges--such as 
when his outfit mistakenly parachuted behind enemy lines and landed in 
a concentration camp, engaging in heavy combat, and liberating the 
victims--but also afforded him the opportunity to share a meal with 
Winston Churchill and having General Patton remark to him, ``You'll 
Make It Kid,'' while riding on the General's tank.
  After the war, Bill's long and prosperous career included a stint in 
the steel mills of Detroit and government work in California, welding 
titanium heat shields for the first manned orbital space flight. 
However, it is his community involvement that has set Bill apart, 
including: fifty-seven years as a Shriner within the Masonic Order, the 
Elk & Moose, Junior Mechanics, Odd Fellows, Red Man and numerous 
others. These groups have allowed him to continue to express his care 
for humanity by delivering meals to those in need and visiting 
terminally ill children in the hospital. Bill is also a co-founder of 
the Concerned Citizens on Patrol and currently volunteers as a Social 
Investigator with the Riverside County Probation Department's Youth 
Accountability Board Program.
  Bill North's incredible devotion to our nation and his outstanding 
work to promote the businesses, schools and community organizations of 
the Jurupa Valley Chamber of Commerce make me proud to call him a 
community member and fellow American. I know that all of the Inland 
Empire, including myself, are grateful for his contribution to the 
betterment of our community and salute Bill as he commences his fourth 
term (third consecutive term) as President of the Jurupa Valley Chamber 
of Commerce. I look forward to continuing to work with him for the good 
of the community well into the future.

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