[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10177-10178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF MR. GERALD A. WILLIAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
life of and express sadness over the untimely death of lawyer and 
friend Gerald A. Williams.
  Mr. Williams was not only a friend but a brilliant lawyer whose 
mission was to serve our community in South Florida. He was a humble 
man and a true role model.
  He had served as the chief counsel to the Palm Beach County School 
Board since November 2005 and was responsible for all legal matters 
involving the School Board. Prior to serving as Chief Counsel, he 
served for four years as Chief Negotiator and Chief Officer of 
Administration for the school district.
  In numerous appointments and positions, Mr. Williams also served as 
general counsel for the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National 
Bar Association, as treasurer and executive board member for the Urban 
League of Palm Beach County, and as co-founder and president of the 
Suncoast Chamber of Commerce in West Palm Beach.
  Mr. Williams became one of the first black graduates of the 
University of Florida College of Law in 1975. His firm, Haygood & 
Williams, grew into the largest all-black law firm in the state. Mr. 
Williams left private practice in 1997 to serve as Chief Labor Counsel, 
and Chief Officer of Labor and Legislative Relations for Dade County 
Public Schools.
  In 2009, Mr. Williams was recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as one 
of Florida's Legal Elite and identified as one of the top government 
attorneys in the state.
  Mr. Williams was a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a 
godfather, a dedicated public service attorney and community leader. I 
am grateful for Mr. Williams' contributions and dedication to Palm 
Beach County. He will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out 
to his family, friends and to the greater community during this 
difficult time.

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