[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5767-5768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF BRENDA BURNS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2016

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for the last 35 years Brenda Burns 
has set the gold standard for public service with her selfless 
contribution to her hometown. Born and raised in Willis, Brenda's 
strong love of community and ability to develop strong relationships 
have served all of Willis well.
  Through a vocational education program at Willis High School, Brenda 
began her career

[[Page 5768]]

working for the City of Willis on May 26, 1981. She started as a part-
time Utility Billing Clerk, but her value was obvious and the position 
quickly became full-time. Only two short years later, Brenda took on 
new duties as the city's Tax Assessor/Collector while continuing to 
handle utility issues. Brenda kept learning every day as she mastered 
the intricacies and minutiae of municipal government. She found a 
mentor in then-City Secretary Janice Wilson. In 1994, Brenda assumed 
the mantle of City Secretary, a position Willis would be blessed to 
have her serve in for 22 years.
  During her 35 years of service to the City of Willis, much has 
changed as this community has grown and prospered. While Brenda served 
as the rock for 4 mayors and countless councilmembers, and the 
interstate highway grew from 2 to 6 lanes. As Willis' population soared 
into the several thousands, city staff quadrupled, meaning more and 
more people came to rely on Brenda. You might say Willis has been her 
family even longer than her husband, David, and their daughters, Monica 
and Katie.
  Court Administrator Chrissy Dahse has been working with Brenda for a 
decade and will miss her ``warm smile''. Chrissy says Brenda can always 
be counted on for ``a thoughtful answer and an honest opinion. Her 
commitment and dedication to The City of Willis is unmatched.''
  During her tenure, Brenda considers the move from a General Law to 
Home-Rule form of government as Willis' greatest accomplishment. While 
she may not know quite as many people who come into City Hall now as 
she used to, her vast and unmatched contribution to the City of Willis 
and its citizens has set an amazing example of service.
  Assistant City Secretary Marissa Quintanilla summed up how Willis 
feels as they prepare to wish Brenda a happy retirement, ``It's hard to 
say goodbye to a person so valued and respected and who is in my 
opinion the `City of Willis'.'' Marissa has spent the last 13 years 
working with Brenda and personally knows how hard it will be to fill 
her shoes. For 35 years Brenda Burns has been an example of public 
service and selfless contribution to the City of Willis, Texas.
  Through all of this change the City of Willis has been able to rely 
on one constant, Brenda Burns. She has become synonymous with Willis 
and her love for her hometown has shone through her entire career. 
Thank you, Brenda, for your service and the great example you have set.

                          ____________________