House Proceeding 09-08-09 on Sep 8th, 2009 :: 1:40:10 to 1:46:35
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1:40:09 to 1:40:29( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: madam speaker, i would like to next recognize another the gentleman from north carolina, representative bob egget recommending. mr. etheridge: -- etheridge. thank representative kissell for organizing this special order this evening for a good friend

1:40:10 to 1:46:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Etheridge

1:40:30 to 1:40:51( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: and as you have heard, a 12-term member of this body. bill hefner, who passed away on wednesday, september 2 of this year, provided selfless service to our state of north carolina and to this nation as you have heard from a number of my colleagues already.

1:40:52 to 1:41:12( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: but in his passing, we have l a good friend. north carolina's lost an outstanding citizen and a man who was instrumental not only in this body, but instrumental in his community, his state, everything he did.

1:41:13 to 1:41:33( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: nancy has lost a devoted husband . stacey and shelly have lost a loving father. and he was a grandfather also who loved children. you heard he w a native of tennessee. first time i remember meeting bill hefner was more years ago

1:41:34 to 1:41:54( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: than i want todmit. i was running for state superintendent. if you run in north carolina, that's an elected office. anybody who has a good side of the group, you want to be there. and i went to the 8th district. and it was the largest group i went to all year, other than where all the educators got

1:41:55 to 1:42:15( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: together and bill was doing his own thing at his own rally and i thought that was the most unusual political rally. i had heard of bill, but never met him. henew how to politic in a unique way.

1:42:16 to 1:42:37( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: the gospel singing he was singing at, it didn't make any difference if they were republican, democrat, conservative or liberal, he was their man. he had a message. they believed in him and he made a difference in their lives. yes, he was president and owner

1:42:38 to 1:43:00( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: of a radio station and he made a difference and he was a bright person, much smarter than he wanted to admit and yes, he had more resources than he ever acknowledged. you would think he was the poorest guy in the room when you were arounhim, but he did ok.

1:43:01 to 1:43:22( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: he was the leader of the har investigater's quartet. congressman price talked about how he came to my district. held a gospel me ahead of time letting me know he was going to be there.

1:43:23 to 1:43:43( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: he said if you are available, i might show up and say a good word for you. when bill came to your district, you better show up. he filled up the civic center. and bill enjoyed that as much as he loved his family, as he loved being in this body. a

1:43:44 to 1:44:05( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: heart, because as soon as he finished on that stage, he was selling those cassettes. he had a delightful time and the people loved him. but that was bill hefner. he enjoyed what he was doing, whether he was legislating, singing or telling a good story.

1:44:06 to 1:44:26( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: you know, as i came to ow bill over the years and only served with him here two, i understood that his political service ally was an extension of his gospel singing, which really was what he loved to do. he cared about people. he cared about what he did. he cared about his religion.

1:44:27 to 1:44:51( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: and both of those were powerful ways for him to serve his fellow man. many of the members of the north carolina delegation, as you already heard from congressman price, learned the ropes of advocating for our constituents here in washingtonrom bill. when i first came, any member

1:44:52 to 1:45:13( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: who's areshman here, you have better services now than when i came here 14 years ago. bill said, if you need a place to meet with folks, you can use my office. somebody who is coming up here and hadn't been to washington much, that meant a lot. he opened the doors of his i used it to meet constituents and other people, but that's

1:45:14 to 1:45:37( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: what bill hefner was about. he was about making you feel at home. he led by example, both as a public official and later as a private citizen. he was known for his passionate support of our military veterans as you already heard this evening. he only represented fort bragg

1:45:38 to 1:45:58( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: in the last few years. but he represented them every day as a member of this body. and that's why you have a school on that base named for him. you have military hospitals named for him because they knew that bill hefner was a friend of veterans, friend of small

1:45:59 to 1:46:19( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: business owners. and as you heard this evening, he was a friend of the working poor as well as the middle class. his life of service will continue to inspire all that knew him. and his love for north carolina can be seen through his work on

1:46:20 to 1:46:39( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: our highways and in our schools and our veterans' hospitals, and yes, in the laws that he helped pass in this body. he retired from congress almost a decade ago, but his work and influence will not be forgotten.