[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E344-E345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING WILLIAM MITCHELL
______
HON. JOHN B. LARSON
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the following is a speech
given by the former Mayor of South Windsor, John Mitchell, to honor his
brother, William Mitchell, for being recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow
of the Rotary Foundation. These two brothers are united in their love
of public service and a willingness to give back to their community. It
has been an honor to know them both. John's tribute to his brother
offers only a brief glimpse into his many contributions.
Billy is affectionately known to friends and family as ``Big,'' and
we call him this because of his big heart, and for always being a big
help to anyone who asks. Congratulations Big, and thank you, John, for
the following remarks:
In the words of that great S.W. Rotarian and philosopher
Robert J. Ignagni, ``This is the main event!'' Thank you all
for coming and being a part of this great evening to honor my
baby brother Billy.
For everything and everyone there is a beginning, and this
is the way it unfolds . . .
Billy, was the 5th child of 6, born to Joseph and Katie
Mitchell. We had 3 older sisters and my father was ready to
jump off the Buckley bridge. He always wanted a son and then
he got his wish, 3 more children, all 3 boys.
Now, years ago, think about it, our mom gave birth to six
children--all in the house wherever we lived at the time. Two
girls born in Pennsylvania, 1 in New Britain, Billy and
myself in Manchester and Joey in East Hartford. There really
wasn't a need for hospitals during this period in our
Nation's health care system, but somehow it worked.
Now, if you have ever been poor, it is quite likely, you
will remember it. Believe me, you will remember it!
Growing up in East Hartford on Tolland Street during World
War II was an experience for six siblings. Coal was the
method that most people used to heat their homes, and our
father delivered coal. At our yard there were piles of coal,
sometimes as tall as this beautiful restaurant. And for many,
many of our young growing years, we would climb those piles
of coal and slide and tumble down those huge piles. The
neighbors often thought mom had 3 white daughters and 3 black
sons, we were the only minorities at the time on Tolland St.
Ice skating was great fun in the winter time, the wooded
area across the railroad tracks would contain little locked
up areas of frozen ponds that were great for skating all
over. Often as our feet grew and the skates didn't we would
cut off the front of the skates to accommodate the growth of
our feet. Everyone was poor but nobody knew it. Many of you
in this room won't remember, except for Kenny Jackson, this
is the World War II era, everything is in short supply, gas,
soap powder, butter. You name it, it probably was tough to
get. Often our family would sit together on the front porch
during the air raids at night because Pratt and Whitney was
considered a prime target. Wardens would be running up and
down the street making sure all lights were out. There were
national guard bunkers with guardsmen living in them on the
Long Hill Golf Course and on Goodwin Street almost in our
back yard, frightening times for kids. And guess what, the
Germans do arrive in a sub in Hancock Point, Maine, right
where Della lived at the time, and a number of them go
walking up Main Street in suits, they were going to
infiltrate the area. They are promptly apprehended because
they just didn't fit into the local area. Nobody in that part
of Maine owned a suit! Talk about not doing your homework!
But we survived it all, and by 1952 the family moved to
S.W. where the base of Billy's operations for business is
today. Back then it was called North Foster Rd., it was a
gravel road and we quickly fit in to our new surroundings by
working in the tobacco fields and man were they all over
town. After Billy graduated Ellsworth High School, he worked
for the family business known as Mitchell Fuel and Trucking
and after the coal business died, Billy and Joey started
Mitchell Trucking and Mitchell Excavators. Billy became
active in town joining the SW Volunteer Fire Dept. and was
recently recognized for his service of 50 years and he still
to this day, is chairman of the board of fire commissioners.
During this period I will never forget 3 incredible fires in
town. The Industronic's building on Sullivan Ave., the
Pyrofax Propane fire on Rt. #5, and the Fishman Building on
Chapel Rd. As the Pyrofax fire was raging, I was standing out
in the middle of Rt #5 as huge propane tanks were burning out
of control and I saw Billy jump into a piece of heavy
equipment and cut a path so the fire trucks could get closer
with their suppressants and as the fires burned out of
control, one large piece of metal debris landed a short
distance from me, I thought how incredibly brave he was, or
was he just plain dumb. Needless to say, he survived and this
act of bravery did help diminish that huge and dangerous fire
more quickly.
Years ago, the trucking business was thriving and Billy
actually used to drive a ten-wheeler, Billy calls me around
6:30 a.m., ``Johnny could you get a couple of shovels and
meet me at the intersection of Crane Road and Wapping Wood
Road in Ellington, I said sure, I'll be right there as soon
as I can.'' Now picture this in your mind, Billy's big 10
wheeler is laying over on it's side, gravel all over and I
arrive with two small shovels. If ever there was to be a
defining moment in our lives, this was it, I knew it, I
absolutely knew that I would forever be
[[Page E345]]
mom's favorite. The trucking business was tough enough, but
when something like that happens, it did hurt. You'd hire the
trucks out for $45 an hour and it would cost $47 to run them.
But, I attribute his love of the trucking business was due to
the fact that he never had any toys to play with.
Now I'm going to fast forward to 20 years ago, because I
know the attention span of the average S.W. Rotarian is less
that 10 minutes. And there is already a fair amount of money
that has been bet on the over and under, 10 minutes.
Billy started Environmental Services, they now employ over
55 people and have approximately 100 different pieces of
specialized equipment. The office often is in a constant
state of confusion and activity, Billy's computer screen
clearly shows where he has left off on the game of solitaire.
A quick look around reveals all the latest types of health
foods imaginable (and boy if that isn't an understatement).
Visitors coming and going, and so when I go there and bring
him a coffee, it's so easy to understand why I forgot what I
went there for in the first place. But, I'll tell you this,
Billy loves oil companies, just loves us passionately. You
see we deliver oil products for $3 $4 per gallon and God help
you if you spill it, he will clean it up for $100 per gallon!
Throughout his many years, Billy has had a unique way of
handling pressure, and I really admired this talent. Picture
this, ``courtroom scene'' billy is the co-defendant in a suit
brought against him. He is represented by the Big East
Hartford law firm, Leone, Throwe, Teller and Nagle. In the
midst of the proceedings, Judge George Ripley smacks his
gavel down and says Attorney Throwe approach the bench, so
Jim approaches the bench and Judge Ripley says if you don't
wake your client up I'll hold you both in contempt. Can't you
see we have students present observing these proceedings.
That's about as relaxed as you can get!
Not long ago Billy was honored by the S.W. Volunteer Fire
Department for his many years of service and recently he was
selected to be the Town Marshall representing the Town of
S.W. for the St. Patrick's Day parade. This is despite the
fact that I think he is actually polish. Oh well!!!
Additionally his recent awards and citations include one
from Governor Dan Malloy, Secretary of State, Denise Merrill,
the General Assembly, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Mayor John
Pelkey and the S.W. Town Council, Atty. General George Jepson
and State Comptroller Kevin Lembo. (I think he's trying to
snag his signature stamp). After all this prominence, I
decided to stop by the office and ask him if he was dying.
Billy says ``No, why how do I look?'' I said well maybe you
might want to lose a pound or two and don't roll up your tee-
shirt so high--but we are who we are.
Over the many, many years, Billy has always supported
Rotary's fund raising efforts by either donating items for
the auction or the purchasing of countless car raffle
tickets, which was started by Andy Charboneau, and Rotary's
many other worthy causes.
Billy's never been a Rotarian although he's been asked
many, many times. He never held a public office, he never
excelled in sports and when we played baseball in the lot
next to our home in East Hartford and things didn't go well
for our youngest sister, the game was over because it was her
bat and her ball. Billy exhibits the kind of quality that you
would like to see in everyone, a compassion for his fellow
man and a willingness to help whenever and however he
possibly can. He exhibits to the highest degree, the first
rule of Rotary's motto, ``Service Above Self''. Billy's life
style reflects the work ethic of a seemingly distant era,
except for maybe his favor nephew Davids. Billy is asleep by
8 p.m., awake by 4 a.m. and on his way to the 7 11 on
Ellington Rd., where he may be asleep in the parking lot,
stocking shelves or making coffee for the attendant. It was
on one such early Sunday morning on his way there that he
noticed a raging garage fire starting to lick the side of a
home. A mother with her 3 children lie asleep inside and he
pounded on the door and was able wake them and call the Fire
Department to respond. It is quite likely that he saved their
lives.
When that final book is written, I believe it will not be
the measure of one's achievements or wealth but what that
person has done with his or her life to help make this a
better and caring world.
Fellow Rotarian's and guests, I submit to you the nominee
for Rotary's highest award, the Paul Harris Award to Billy F.
Mitchell.
____________________