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“HONORING THE LIFE OF HON. RICHARD F. ``RIC'' WILLIAMSON” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E13 on Jan. 15, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF HON. RICHARD F. ``RIC'' WILLIAMSON
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HON. JOHN L. MICA
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a wonderful friend and a great leader in transportation, both in Texas and our Nation, the Hon. Richard F. (``Ric'') Williamson. His sudden passing on December 30, 2007 was an incredible loss to his family, the State of Texas and our country.
It has been my honor to know and work with Ric during his service as Texas Commissioner of Transportation. From our first meeting, I knew I had a found a friend, a leader, and a key supporter of building our Nation's infrastructure. Rick's passing is a tremendous loss to all those who respected his leadership and brilliance in government's important work to build the national transportation system. I join the Texas Congressional Delegation and all who knew and worked with Ric in extending our sincere condolences to his wife and family.
As chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, Ric crafted creative, major, and often controversial decisions about the future of the State's transportation system. He was a strong proponent of toll roads and public-private partnerships as a solution to meet the State's transportation needs and funding shortfalls.
Ric's policies and positions were always well thought-out and passionately defended. He always did what he thought would best serve the transportation needs of the State, and many believe that his support for public-private partnerships was instrumental in inspiring other States to consider similar deals as a way to finance new highway construction or to provide long-range, predictable State revenues.
Ric was a native of Abilene, Texas and graduated from University of Texas at Austin in 1974. In 1985, Ric was elected to the Texas Legislature, as a Democrat, and served 13 years until he left in 1998 as a Republican. Serving on the legislature's House Appropriations Committee, he was one of the ``Pit Bulls,'' conservative lawmakers who questioned how the state spent its money. He believed that agencies should get money based on the goals they set and met, a concept known as performance-based budgeting, which is used today in the Texas budget process.
During his State House years, Ric was known as a maverick, and earned the nickname ``Nitro'' for his energy. He was an independent and aggressive leader who preferred making good policy over playing politics.
In 2001, Governor Perry appointed Ric to serve on the five-person Commission that oversees statewide activities of the Texas Department of Transportation. In 2004, he became the Commission's chairman. His tenure at the Commission was sometimes controversial, but, as my friend and colleague from the 26th district in Texas, Dr. Michael Burgess, said, Ric Williamson was ``unafraid to challenge the status quo, and was a highly regarded leader bringing innovative ideas to provide safe, economic and reliable transportation to improve the daily lives of Texans.''
Ric is survived by his wife Mary Ann Williamson and three daughters, Melissa Meyer, Katherine Strange, and Sara Williamson, as well as two grandchildren.
In closing, I will quote another friend of Ric's, the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. ``Texas has lost a proud son, as has the nation's transportation community.'' Ric Williamson was a visionary leader and a straight talker. He will be sorely missed.
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