Benjamin Gilman: “it is with genuine shock and sadness that I rise to join our colleagues in memorializing the passage of and honoring an…”

“it is with genuine shock and sadness that I rise to join our colleagues in memorializing the passage of and honoring an outstanding Member of this body, Bill Emerson of Missouri. We have all been aware for some time that Bill was grievously ill. However, this did not lessen the shock of his passing. We all recall how he remained courageously active until the very end and, in fact, did not miss any rollcall votes, even though in a wheelchair just until a week before his passing. Bill Emerson loved this institution from the time he served as a page until the present days. He was beloved back in his home district, the Eight of Missouri, and he served on the Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees of the House. His dedication on both of those committees earned him the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. In addition, Bill was a productive member of the Joint Committee on the Organization of the Congress and in may ways the reforms adopted by this House are a living memorial to Bill Emerson. He was a 28-year veteran of the Air Force Reserves and his dedication to the needs of our veterans and our Nation is well known. Bill leaves behind his widow Jo Ann and their four beautiful children. Hopefully Jo Ann and the children may receive some small solace from the knowledge that many share their loss, both here in the Congress and at home in Missouri.”