[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   ON THE PASSING OF MY DEAR FRIEND, AMERICAN PATRIOT AND COMMUNITY 
                  LEADER, COL H. WILLIAM ``BILL'' CARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2010

  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor in memoriam the 
dedication and outstanding leadership of COL. H. William ``Bill'' Card, 
who served as mayor of Harlingen, Texas, from 1987 to 1998. He passed 
away Sunday, July 18, 2010, in Harlingen at the age of 88.
  Colonel Card, who spent more than 2 decades in selfless service as 
Mayor of Harlingen, championed a united front of Rio Grande Valley 
communities to develop a regional effort for business opportunities and 
economic development. He was an unsung hero of the Rio Grande Valley.
  Colonel Card was the longest-serving mayor of Harlingen, where he 
served 4 terms as mayor of the city. During his leadership, Harlingen 
was named an ``All-American City.''
  Colonel Card retired from the Marine Corps after 28 years of service 
and relocated to Harlingen in 1968 to become commander of the Marine 
Military Academy. In 1975, he began his career as a banker and went on 
to become president of the First National Bank of Harlingen.
  Colonel Card is survived by his wife, Garrison, his son, Bill Card 
III, and his daughter, Patti Card Smith. He is preceded in death by his 
daughter Cheryl Card Gray.
  Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in commemorating the life of 
Colonel Card, who served this Nation with dignity, honor, respect and 
admiration. He will long be remembered by the communities he cared so 
much for in South Texas. His family, friends and loved ones will miss 
him dearly--so will I.

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