Max Baucus: “I rise today to ask that this body honor a man whose life was an honor to Montana. And a man whose death is a loss to us…”

“I rise today to ask that this body honor a man whose life was an honor to Montana. And a man whose death is a loss to us all. My friend, Charles A. ``Bill'' Bishop, died on Sunday, January 26. But his memory will continue to live on in all of us who remember him. His loss is sudden, and we are left now to remember this man who gave us so much. Throughout his life, he was a husband, a father, an advocate, a learner, a jokester, and a teacher. In everything he did, he attacked it with a passion--an unquenchable zest for life. Family was everything to Bill. He idolized his wife and children, and they loved him dearly. One of his favorite things in the world was spending time with his family. I extend my deepest sympathies to them in this time of sorrow. Bill's zest for life can easily be seen in his legacy of outspoken advocacy for the environment. With a heart as big as the Mission Mountains that he loved so much, Bill was committed to leaving this planet a better place for his children and grandchildren. On these issues, Bill was often an adviser to me. If he agreed with something I did, he would let me know. If he disagreed, I could expect to get an earful from him. Yet through it all, he was thoughtful, respectful, and eager to find solutions to the many problems that confront Montana. I still have a hard time imagining Montana without Bill Bishop. In many ways, I will never get used to his absence. To say that I will miss him is not enough.”