12 LC 93
1656
House
Resolution 2016
By:
Representatives Stephens of the
164th
and Ehrhart of the
36th
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
William H. "Bill" Hecht and inviting him to be recognized by the House of
Representatives; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
William H. "Bill" Hecht is a fixture in Washington, D.C., and has made
significant and lasting contributions to his church, family, friends, and
country; and
WHEREAS,
a native of Tifton, Georgia, Bill earned a Master of Arts degree from Washington
University in St. Louis, a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in
St. Louis, and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees from Concordia
University; and
WHEREAS,
he served as an ordained pastor at Faith Lutheran Church and also taught
philosophy at the University of Oklahoma from 1960 to 1967; and
WHEREAS,
Bill accepted the position of executive director of the Republican Party in
Missouri in 1967 and moved his family to Jefferson City, where two years later
he became special assistant to the president of the American Security Council;
and
WHEREAS,
in 1967, Bill led a group of Missouri Synod Lutheran Church presidents on a
worldwide mission, and he and his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he
became special assistant to the late Representative Richard Ichord;
and
WHEREAS,
in 1975, Bill joined the Tobacco Institute where he served as the vice president
for legislative affairs until 1981 when he started his own government relations
firm called Hecht Spencer and Associates, Inc., with his friend and colleague,
Stuart Spencer; and
WHEREAS,
Bill played an active role in both of President Reagan's campaigns and President
Bush's 1988 campaign where he served as the congressional liaison for the
Bush-Quayle Inaugural Committee;
and
WHEREAS, he is united in love and
marriage to Susan Vogt and blessed with three remarkable sons, Herbert William
II, Timothy Paul, and James Christian, and ten adored grandchildren, Caroline,
Rachel, William Herbert III, Robbie, Christian, Danny, Hannah, Sammy, Holly, and
Jonathan; and
WHEREAS,
Bill has received numerous honors, including The Silver Beaver Award for
Distinguished Service to Youth from the Boy Scouts of America in 1998, the
Honorary Doctor of Laws Award from Concordia University in 2005 and the
Distinguished Alumni Award from Concordia Seminary in 2006; and
WHEREAS,
it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this
remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body commend William H. "Bill" Hecht on decades of efficient, effective,
unselfish, and dedicated public service, extend their most heartfelt gratitude
for his many contributions to the United States, and invite him to be recognized
by the House of Representatives at a date and time designated by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to William H.
"Bill" Hecht.