[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5643-5644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   WILLIAM C. CHANDLER, ``MR. YMCA''

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to an 
outstanding citizen of the great state of Alabama, William C. Chandler.
  For over 50 years, Mr. Chandler's mission has been to help the youth 
and community around him. His work and endeavors have improved the 
lives of so many disadvantaged children and

[[Page 5644]]

greatly enriched the Montgomery community. The foundation of good will 
he has laid will undoubtedly continue to help countless more as he 
settles into retirement.
  His career began in 1945 when he received his Naval ROTC Officer 
commission and served 16 months in the Pacific theater. Upon returning, 
he finished two degrees, taught mathematics and became assistant 
director at the Young Men's Christian Association, YMCA, in Athens, GA. 
Two years later, in 1956, he moved to Alabama where he spent the next 
54 years working hard to help the children and families of Montgomery, 
starting as the Boy's Work Secretary and as a Junior Lion's Camp 
Director. When he got to Montgomery, the YMCA program was very small 
and in need of financial support. Though the program was small and not 
well supported, Mr. Chandler had a larger and more significant vision 
for the Montgomery YMCA. He spearheaded their Capital Campaign and 
raised over $1 million, a truly impressive amount considering it was 
the 1950s. With this money, two more local YMCA facilities were 
introduced, with even more being built in the 1960s and 70s. Today 
these facilities serve over 65,000 people each year in seven local 
counties.
  Though Mr. ``YMCA,'' as he is popularly called, centered most of his 
time and efforts around the YMCA, he also founded many other types of 
programs to help young women and local families. Included in these are 
the Alabama Youth in Legislature Program, which gives high school 
students a hands-on experience with the government. He also started the 
Hi-Y and Tri-Y programs, which are social and service organizations for 
high school aged men and women. He also began the Moral Education 
Program for young men and women; created the Jimmy Hitchcock Award, 
honoring outstanding high school Christian youth; launched the 
Montgomery Lions International Youth Camp; and, started the Youth to 
Europe Program. He also established the After School Child Care 
Program, currently serving more than 3,000 children, began the 
``Success by Six'' Program, which teaches young children how to lead 
good lives by the time they're six, as well as the ``Gift of Life'' 
Program, helping mothers and their children in need of help.
  In addition, to the great many programs he established, Mr. Chandler 
served in several significant and distinguished roles throughout his 
career. Beginning in 1953, he became General Director of the Montgomery 
YMCA, which he served in until May, 2002. In the 1960s, he served as 
the Chairman of the Helen Keller Memorial Project of the Montgomery 
Lions Club and then became their chapter president 1965. He also held a 
large leadership role in the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs, 
and became Lions Club International President in 1980, during which he 
visited 42 countries meeting with many dignitaries, including Pope John 
Paul II.
  For his great work, Bill has been awarded many honors, including 18 
International President's Awards, the Melvin Jones Extension Award, the 
Key Member Award and the District Governor's Extension Award. He is a 
Melvin Jones Fellow, and a recipient of the Ambassador of Goodwill 
Award, the highest honor a Lion can receive from the association. He is 
also the recipient of three very prestigious awards, including the 
Montgomery Advertiser's ``Citizen of the Year'' award, the Alabama 
Journal's ``Citizen of the Year'' award in 1991, and he was named 
Montgomery's ``Man of the Year'' in 2001.
  Mr. Chandler's many good deeds can never be counted because his 
charitable pursuits were countless and often done anonymously. He is an 
example of a great statesman and leader. He has helped so many people, 
particularly those in need, and has served as a great role model for 
the young lives he has so generously helped.
  I am very proud of his great work. I have seen him lead for good in a 
host of areas. For a time, I served on his YMCA board. It was easy to 
see the love and respect those outstanding city leaders had for Bill. 
It was a respect fairly earned and came as a product of a long and 
productive life of able service to those less fortunate. I have had the 
great opportunity in my life of over one half a century to meet and 
know many great and selfless Americans. As the leader the YMCA and of 
Alabama's Lions Club, of which I am one, I have seen his unsurpassed, 
and remarkable leadership for good. I know Bill will continue to help 
those around him, even in retirement. I applaud his tireless efforts on 
behalf of all Alabamians and would like to take this opportunity to 
thank him for all that he has contributed to Montgomery, the State of 
Alabama, and our Nation.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing Mr. William 
Chandler for his outstanding achievements and wish him well in his 
retirement.

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