[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 30675]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             IN MEMORY OF A SOUTH TEXAS HERO, BILL SUMMERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 8, 2009

  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor in memoriam the 
dedication and outstanding leadership of Mr. Bill Summers, who led the 
Rio Grande Valley Partnerships as its CEO for 20 years until his 
passing on Monday, December 1.
  Mr. Summers, who spent 2 decades promoting South Texas and Mexico, as 
the two areas worked in unison to attract business opportunities and 
economic development to the region, was a pillar of South Texas. He was 
the unsung hero of the Rio Grande Valley, who is credited with bringing 
together local governments, economic development organizations and 
Chambers of Commerce to bring jobs and a better way of life to our 
communities.
  Through his vision and tireless work for the Rio Grande Valley, he 
was able to secure business opportunities and ventures with Mexico and 
most importantly, the state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas. Mr. 
Summers worked tirelessly to unite the South Texas region and to create 
economic growth and prosperity for the area.
  He was key in establishing, opening and maintaining the first Texas 
Chamber of Commerce office in Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to promote 
trade and tourism of the South Texas region into Mexico.
  Through Mr. Summer's work in Texas, the nation and Mexico, he was 
able to improve the lives of many by growing jobs and pushing for 
economic opportunities. He was instrumental in the creation of the Rio 
Grande Valley Mobility Task Force, which brought additional 
transportation funding to South Texas and pushed for the creation of an 
interstate highway.
  Recently, he was honored when Farm-to-Market Road 1015 between U.S. 
Highway 83 and the Progreso International Bridge was named the Bill 
Summers International Boulevard.
  Although we have lost a great hero whom we all deeply cared for and 
loved, I am certain his love and passion for the Rio Grande Valley will 
remain in our hearts and spirits for years and years to come. We will 
always remember Mr. Summers as a wise man who worked for the good. We 
will remember Mr. Summers as a man who could do it all.
  Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in commemorating the life of 
Mr. Bill Summers, who served this nation with dignity, honor, respect 
and admiration.

                          ____________________