The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM POPE ``BILLY'' LANGDALE, SR.” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E3024 on Dec. 17, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM POPE ``BILLY'' LANGDALE, SR.
______
HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of William Pope ``Billy'' Langdale, Sr., a man I was proud to call my friend and constituent. An accomplished public servant who was devoted to his community, state, country, his family, and friends, Billy passed away on December 12, 2009, at the age of 88.
Billy lived his entire life in Valdosta in Lowndes County, Georgia. He graduated from Valdosta High School in 1938 where he was a proud member of the Valdosta Wildcat football team. He went on to attend the University of Georgia, where he played football for the Bulldogs before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. He served in the Marines for 10 years and was awarded a Bronze Star before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
His public career began in 1960, when he was elected as chairman to the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, where he served for 16 years. He then served as Chairman of the Georgia Department of Transportation board for 2 years before becoming the Second Congressional District representative on the DOT board, a post he held for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in numerous local transportation projects, from highway improvements to the six-laning of Interstate 75.
Billy fittingly received many accolades for his public service, including being named as one of Georgia Trend magazine's ``100 Most Influential Georgians'' as well as South Georgia Business magazine's list of the ``Most Influential South Georgians.'' A highway in my district is named the ``Billy Langdale Highway'' in his honor. Upon his retirement in 2008, both the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives passed resolutions thanking Billy for his many years of service to the state.
Madam Speaker, the State of Georgia, especially the Second Congressional District, and our Nation have been truly blessed to have benefited from the tremendous leadership of Billy Langdale. He will be remembered for the compassion he spread continuously throughout his life, his great humor, his never ending modesty, his intense desire to help others, and his unwavering love for his family.
____________________
