[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF WILLIAM C. CRAMER

  (Mr. MICA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, it is with sadness that I join my colleague, 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Appropriations, in recognizing the passing of one of 
our former colleagues of the House of Representatives, William C. 
Cramer.
  Bill Cramer served in this Chamber as a representative from Florida's 
west coast from 1955 to 1970. Over the past decades, Congressman Cramer 
was more than a former colleague to me. I affectionately referred to 
him as my old boss for I had the great honor and privilege also to work 
with him, and I worked as a campaign aid in his bid for the United 
States Senate in 1970.
  Bill Cramer was a pioneer for the Republican party. He was a Florida 
State legislator and the first GOP Member from the State of Florida 
since the post-Civil War reconstruction era. Not only was he one of the 
true contemporary founders of Florida's Republican majority, Bill 
Cramer served initially as a minority of one, our State's only GOP 
Member in Congress in 1955.
  In the House of Representatives, Congressman Cramer rose to 
leadership positions in both the Public Works Committee and also the 
House GOP conference with his distinguished service. And as part of his 
legacy, the Republican party of Florida now has 18 of 25 GOP Members of 
Congress, a Republican Governor, and majorities in both the State 
Senate and State House.
  Our country has lost a great American and an honored veteran. Mr. 
Speaker, the Congress, the State of Florida, and the Republican party 
have lost a distinguished leader. With Bill Cramer's passing, I have 
lost a great mentor and a good friend.
  To the Cramer family, Sara his wife, his sons Billy, Jr., Mark, 
Allyn, and his family, I extend my personal sympathy.

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