[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4096]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING WILLIAM N. TUNNELL, JR. ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important 
contributions of Mr. William ``Bill'' Tunnell, Jr. Bill Tunnell 
recently retired after almost 20 years as Executive Director of the USS 
Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
  Bill Tunnell's impact on Southwest Alabama and our entire state 
cannot really be put into words. He has succeeded in transforming 
Battleship Memorial Park into one of Alabama's premier tourist 
destinations and a top landmark along the entire Gulf Coast. Throughout 
the process, he has always kept the focus on inspiring patriotism and 
honoring those who have served our country.
  Bill moved to Mobile in 1979, where he worked in the hotel and 
hospitality industry until 1991. It was that year that he took over as 
marketing and public relations director for Battleship Memorial Park. 
In 1997, he was named executive director.
  Through busy crowds, hurricanes, and economic downturns, Bill 
Tunnell's steady leadership helped ensure the USS Alabama and 
Battleship Memorial Park remains well maintained and open to visitors. 
Most recently, Bill successfully organized and planned events to 
celebrate the 50th anniversary of Battleship Memorial Park.
  Among his many awards and honors, Bill Tunnell was the first ever 
inductee of the Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame, winner of the Eastern 
Shore Chamber of Commerce Community Leader of the Year award, and 
recipient of the Alabama Restaurant Association and Alabama Hospitality 
Association's Tourism Promoter of the Year award. He was named an 
``Honorary Veteran'' in 2011 by the South Alabama Veterans Council, who 
partnered with Mr. Tunnell on countless projects and events. These are 
just a handful of his many honors and achievements.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to call Bill Tunnell a friend. He is a 
truly outstanding individual who has never hesitated to put others 
above himself. Bill recently said that it is not actually the ship that 
makes Battleship Memorial Park. Instead, he said it is ``the heart and 
soul of all the people who've attached themselves'' to the ship. No one 
has put more of their ``heart and soul'' into the ship and the park 
than Bill Tunnell.
  So, on behalf of Alabama's First Congressional District, I want to 
wish Bill and his wife, Cynthia, all the best in retirement, and I hope 
Bill gets to spend some quality time working on his golf game. Thank 
you for your service and dedication to our community, our veterans, and 
the State of Alabama.

                          ____________________