[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           BILL BRACE HONORED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the long and dedicated record of public 
service of Bill Brace, who is retiring after 31 years of working for 
the people of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He has served as city clerk 
for 29 years and for five of those years, he has also served as city 
administrator. He will be honored with a retirement dinner on Sept. 28.
  Bill graduated from Kingston High School in 1962 and served in the 
Army from 1963 to 1966. He joined the City of Wilkes-Barre government 
as a city license clerk in 1970 and within two years, he had moved up 
to city clerk, the chief administrative officer for the City Council.
  It is a testament to Bill's abilities that he has served under seven 
different mayors. It also speaks very well of him that in 1996, rather 
than lose Bill's services as city clerk because incoming Mayor Tom 
McGroarty wanted him to serve as city administrator, the City Council 
convinced Bill to serve in both positions. This dual role meant that 
Bill took on the added responsibility of serving as the chief 
administrative officer of a city government that employs 425 people.
  Bill has also made time for extensive community involvement over the 
years, including his membership at Veterans of Foreign Wars Wilkes-
Barre Post 6227, where he served as commander from 1973 to 1976. He is 
a past exalted ruler of Elks Wyoming Valley Lodge No. 109, where his 
fellow members recognized his contributions by naming him Elk of the 
Year in 1993. He is also founder and chairman of the board of governors 
of the Killer Bees Athletic Club, a life member of AMVETS Post 59 in 
Hanover Township, and a member of the North End Slovak Citizens Club, 
the St. Conrad's Society, and the St. David's Society. He has also 
served as a board member and officer of the Wilkes-Barre City Employees 
Credit Union for 30 years.
  He has also participated in numerous professional organizations, 
including the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the 
International Municipal Clerks' Advanced Education Academy, the 
Pennsylvania Local Government Secretaries Association, Pennsylvania 
League of Cities and Municipalities, National League of Cities and 
Wyoming Valley Municipal Managers Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the long and dedicated service of Bill Brace to the 
people of Wilkes-Barre, and I wish him all the best.




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