[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24904]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MR. RADCLIFFE KILLAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2007

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Radcliffe 
Killam, one of the greatest members of the community of Laredo, Texas, 
who passed away at the age of 97 on September 8, 2007.
  Mr. Radcliffe Killam was born on July 1, 1910, to Oliver Winfield and 
Harriet Smith Killam in Grove, Oklahoma. He came to Laredo with his 
family when he was 9 years old. His father established the Mirando Oil 
Company in South Texas, which would later become Killam Oil Company 
under the leadership of his son, Radcliffe. Mr. Killam grew up working 
on oil rigs, and attended Laredo High School. He then received a 
Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and earned a 
law degree from Harvard Law School in 1935. During World War II, 
Radcliffe was among those in the greatest generation to answer the call 
of duty by serving in the U.S. Naval Service overseas in the Atlantic 
and then in the Pacific.
  When the war was over, Mr. Killam returned back to his oil business 
in Laredo, Texas, with his wife, the former Sue Spivey of Bonham, 
Texas, whom he had married in 1942. He was extensively involved in the 
community, and served on the boards and councils of banks, foundations, 
and educational institutions such as Texas A&M International University 
whose founding he had helped make possible through his donation of 300 
acres for the campus. Mr. Killam truly believed that education was the 
key to success for the future of the community in Laredo, and 
endeavored through his various partnerships with TAMIU to ensure the 
continued success of TAMIU in South Texas. Mr. Killam also extended his 
philanthropic interests to Mercy Hospital in Laredo, M.D. Anderson 
Cancer Center in Houston, and to the South Texas Health Sciences 
Center.
  Mr. Killam was also known for his love of the outdoors. He owned 
several large ranches, and implemented a game management program which 
allowed hunters to hunt wild game on his ranch. The City of Laredo 
benefited a great deal from the philanthropy of Mr. Killam. He left 
behind a remarkable legacy that continues to inspire those who knew and 
loved him. Mr. Radcliffe Killam truly led by example and it is to his 
credit that Laredo has advanced a great deal as one of the leading 
trade ports and economies in South Texas, with more opportunities for 
higher education for the youth of the community due to his investments 
in TAMIU.
  Mr. Killam is survived by his wife, Sue, of 65 years, his son David 
and his wife, Hayley, his daughter, Adrian Kathleen, his daughter Tracy 
DiLeo and her husband, Michael, and four grandsons, Radcliffe Killam 
II, David Killam, Nicholas and Joseph DiLeo. Mr. Killam was preceded in 
death by his daughter Terry Killam Wilber, his brother Winfield Killam, 
and his sister Patricia Louise Killam Hurd.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to have this time to recognize Mr. 
Radcliffe Killam, and I thank you for this time.

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