Recognizing Ohio's Longest-Serving Township Trustee, William ``andy'' Thompson

Floor Speech

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Mr. BALDERSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Ohio's longest-serving township trustee, William ``Andy'' Thompson.

The year 1970 was momentous for many reasons. It was the year the Beatles released their final album ``Let It Be'' just before the band broke up, the legal voting age in the U.S. was lowered from 21 to 18, and it was the year that William ``Andy'' Thompson first answered the call to serve his community.

After 52 years and 13 consecutive four-year terms, Andy ends his tenure as Ohio's longest-serving township trustee. Located in northwest Delaware County, Thompson Township, which carries the same family name only by coincidence, has a population of just 659 residents.

For township trustees in rural Ohio, the role requires more than just setting policy and addressing the concerns of residents. Given the size and budgets of smaller townships, the job often doubles as a part-time maintenance position of sorts. Even at age 84, Andy was no exception. On any given day, if Andy wasn't tending to his own farm, he could likely be found patching roads or mowing at the local cemetery.

Among Andy's long list of accomplishments spanning his more than five decades of public service was the construction of a new township hall, at no added expense to taxpayers.

While Andy's time as an officeholder has ended, his legacy will endure for many years to come. This legacy includes his successor as township trustee, his son, Andy Thompson III.

Andy has set a high bar for the thousands of township officeholders serving across Ohio's 1,308 townships. It is an honor to recognize his long career of public service and to express my sincere gratitude to William ``Andy'' Thompson on behalf of Ohio's 12th Congressional District.

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