Recognizing Congressional Patriot Award Recipient William Douglass

Floor Speech

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Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. William ``Bill'' Douglass of Sherman, Texas, and present him with the Congressional Patriot Award. Bill is a distinguished American who has faithfully served our community and country.

A native of Pennsylvania, Bill graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1958 as a Dean's List Scholar. He later joined the United States Marine Corps and Army, serving as a First Lieutenant specializing in Combat Intelligence. Afterwards, Bill began his career in the oil industry as part of ExxonMobil's Sales team and quickly worked his way up to become one of their Senior Advisors. It was during this time that his entrepreneurial spirit pushed him to pursue his very own path in the oil distribution business. In the early 1980s, Bill left Exxon and purchased a petroleum distribution company in Sherman, now known as Douglass Distributing. Douglass Distributing employs over 400 individuals across North Texas whose establishments include gas stations, Lone Star convenience stores, and fast-food franchises. If you drive through North Texas. you'll likely stop at one of the many stores owned by Bill.

For his exemplary work, Bill's signature Lone Star brand won Convenience Store of the Year twice. He was also recognized as an Employer of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Workforce Commission. In 2008, Bill was inducted into the Convenience Store Hall of Fame. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Texoma Medical Center's Board of Trustees and is a board member at Austin College, where he received an honorary Ph.D. for his contributions to the Sherman community. I am proud of the work Bill has accomplished to innovate the next generation of convenience stores and improve the world around us.

It is an honor to bestow Bill with the Patriot Award for his exceptional service to our Nation and the people of North Texas.

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