[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12520]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE OF FORMER GUAM GOVERNOR BILL DANIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Governor 
Bill Daniel, a former Governor of Guam, who passed away Tuesday, June 
20, 2006, at his home in Liberty, TX, at the age of ninety. His legacy 
has left an indelible imprint on our island and our people. Daniel 
served as Governor of Guam from 1961 to 1963. He was appointed to this 
position by President John F. Kennedy. Governor Daniel not only rose to 
the task, he adopted the island as his second home and implemented 
changes that continue to benefit our island to this day.
  Governor Daniel was a ``hands-on'' leader. He mounted a massive, 
island-wide clean-up campaign that included cutting a trail to reach 
the isolated Talofofo Falls, which continues to serve as one of the 
island's most beautiful and popular sites for visitors. Before his 
first 100 days ended, Governor Daniel signed legislation upgrading 
education by elevating the College of Guam to a four-year institution 
of higher learning now known as the University of Guam. The University 
of Guam today is an accredited institution providing quality education 
to approximately 3,000 students on our island.
  He is however best known for removing the security clearance 
requirement for persons who traveled to or from Guam, including 
residents. The lifting of this clearance is acknowledged as the single 
most important act which stimulated Guam's economy.
  Governor Daniel was a true visionary whose deep love for our island 
and our people is manifested in his accomplishments as Governor of 
Guam. In addition to his many successes, he never wavered in his belief 
that our island was ready for a greater degree of self-governance. In 
1963, Governor Daniel resigned from his position, allowing the 
Honorable Manuel Guerrero, his friend and protege, to succeed him as 
Governor.
  Governor Daniel was instrumental in helping shape our island and his 
success in removing the security clearance paved the way for our 
thriving visitor industry and private sector development. Though his 
tenure was brief, Governor Daniel's deep affection for Guam never 
waned. He set up a scholarship fund at the University of Guam to ensure 
his legacy in promoting higher education. He maintained his 
relationship with many of our leaders throughout the years, especially 
those leaders he mentored, and he remained an advocate and a friend of 
Guam. My late husband, former Governor Ricky Bordallo, was inspired by 
Governor Daniel's leadership and he always counted Governor Daniel as 
one of the most important leaders of our island and a historical figure 
whose vision changed our island. I will always remember him as that 
larger than life Texan whose greatest contribution was in knowing how 
to encourage local leaders. He had the wisdom to step aside at the 
right moment so that the people of Guam can exercise self-governance, 
and for that graciousness, we will always be thankful.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his daughters Ann, Susan and Dani. I 
join all the people of Guam in expressing our deepest gratitude for his 
dedication and service to our island. He will be dearly missed.

                          ____________________