Willie Hefner: “History will record the great energy and dedication our colleague, Bill Natcher, devoted to this institution and to the…”

“History will record the great energy and dedication our colleague, Bill Natcher, devoted to this institution and to the people it serves. It will record an incredible 18,401 uninterrupted rollcall votes amassed over 43 years in which he never missed a single day of work. Not a single day. It will record that he came here as the representative of a rural, small-town district and rose to great positions, of leadership in the Appropriations Committee and on this floor, all on the same humble values of hard work, fair play and attention to duty. History will record, and will no doubt be indebted to, his faithful chronicle of life and work as a member of this body during one of the most fascinating and momentous periods in our nation. And it will record that Bill Natcher did all of these things will little fanfare, neither seeking nor accepting any special attention in Washington or at home. But, Mr. Speaker, history will also record what is in such evidence here today, and that is the great love and true affection Members of this body have for Bill Natcher. He was a man of exceptional courtesy and sincerity, a teacher of wise and generous counsel, a gentleman whose word was always his bond. Mr. Speaker, I count the leadership and friendship I received from Bill Natcher among the genuine, blessing of service in this institution. It was an honor to serve with him and under him on the Appropriations Committee, and a privilege to call him both colleague and friend.”