Congratulating Tim Wilson
Floor Speech
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Mr. KING. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate Mr. Timothy P. Wilson on receiving the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.
The Gerda Haas Award recognizes and honors individuals who demonstrate excellence and initiative in human rights education and leadership. In the late 1970s, Gerda Haas was appointed to the Maine State School Board of Education and while serving on the board learned that students were not being taught about the Holocaust in Maine schools. Gerda identified this critical educational void and took action to remedy it, establishing the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine with the goal of combating prejudice and discrimination while encouraging individuals to reflect and act upon their ethical and moral responsibilities in the modern world.
Tim Wilson certainly lives up to this philosophy. Over the course of his vibrant life as a teacher, coach, philanthropist, consultant, government official, husband, father, and grandfather, Tim has dedicated his time to serving others both at home in Maine and in the international community.
After graduating from Slippery Rock University and the University of Washington, where he was certified to teach English as a second language, Tim served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1962 to 1965. When he returned to the U.S., Tim took over as the head coach of the Dexter High School football team leading them to two Class C co-state championships and two Little Ten Conference titles. Over the course of his coaching career Tim has been a mentor to hundreds, if not thousands of students throughout Maine advocating education and sportsmanship.
One of Tim's greatest legacies is his work with Seeds of Peace. This student exchange program is focused on bringing young people from conflict zones around the world together in order to build lasting relationships and develop the skills needed to advance peace. In the program's first year, Tim managed the International Camp in Otisfield, ME where a group of 46 Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, and American teenagers attended the camp for the inaugural season. As Seeds of Peace grew to accommodate over 100 students every year, Tim worked as director of both the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine and the Seeds of Peace Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem. Currently, Tim serves as a special international advisor to Seeds of Peace which has generated over 5,000 international alumni and which continues to help young people work towards peace in international conflict areas.
Tim Wilson has worked under four Maine Governors, including myself. He has served in posts such as chair of the Maine Human Rights Commission, State ombudsman, and associate commissioner of programming for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Corrections. He served as director of the State Offices of Energy, Community Services, and Civil Emergency Preparedness. He has also been the director of admissions at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, the associate headmaster at the Hyde School in Bath, ME, and the annual key note speaker at Dirigo Girls State.
In 1997, the late King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan presented Tim with a Medal of Honor. Seeds of Peace has recognized his efforts with a Distinguished Leadership Award and the Maine Youth Camping Association honored him with the Halsey Gulick Award. Tim has also been honored with the DistinguisheMr. KING. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate Mr. Timothy P. Wilson on receiving the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.
The Gerda Haas Award recognizes and honors individuals who demonstrate excellence and initiative in human rights education and leadership. In the late 1970s, Gerda Haas was appointed to the Maine State School Board of Education and while serving on the board learned that students were not being taught about the Holocaust in Maine schools. Gerda identified this critical educational void and took action to remedy it, establishing the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine with the goal of combating prejudice and discrimination while encouraging individuals to reflect and act upon their ethical and moral responsibilities in the modern world.
Tim Wilson certainly lives up to this philosophy. Over the course of his vibrant life as a teacher, coach, philanthropist, consultant, government official, husband, father, and grandfather, Tim has dedicated his time to serving others both at home in Maine and in the international community.
After graduating from Slippery Rock University and the University of Washington, where he was certified to teach English as a second language, Tim served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1962 to 1965. When he returned to the U.S., Tim took over as the head coach of the Dexter High School football team leading them to two Class C co-state championships and two Little Ten Conference titles. Over the course of his coaching career Tim has been a mentor to hundreds, if not thousands of students throughout Maine advocating education and sportsmanship.
One of Tim's greatest legacies is his work with Seeds of Peace. This student exchange program is focused on bringing young people from conflict zones around the world together in order to build lasting relationships and develop the skills needed to advance peace. In the program's first year, Tim managed the International Camp in Otisfield, ME where a group of 46 Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, and American teenagers attended the camp for the inaugural season. As Seeds of Peace grew to accommodate over 100 students every year, Tim worked as director of both the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Maine and the Seeds of Peace Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem. Currently, Tim serves as a special international advisor to Seeds of Peace which has generated over 5,000 international alumni and which continues to help young people work towards peace in international conflict areas.
Tim Wilson has worked under four Maine Governors, including myself. He has served in posts such as chair of the Maine Human Rights Commission, State ombudsman, and associate commissioner of programming for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Corrections. He served as director of the State Offices of Energy, Community Services, and Civil Emergency Preparedness. He has also been the director of admissions at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, the associate headmaster at the Hyde School in Bath, ME, and the annual key note speaker at Dirigo Girls State.
In 1997, the late King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan presented Tim with a Medal of Honor. Seeds of Peace has recognized his efforts with a Distinguished Leadership Award and the Maine Youth Camping Association honored him with the Halsey Gulick Award. Tim has also been honored with the Distinguished American Award by the Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Most recently, Tim received the Franklin H. Williams Award which recognizes ethnically diverse returned Peace Corps Volunteers who exemplify a commitment to community service and the Peace Corps' goal of promoting a cultural awareness among Americans.
Tim Wilson has devoted his life to promoting peace and understanding, to educating young people, and to empowering them to make their communities--and the world--a better place. I can think of no one more deserving of the Gerda Haas Award. Tim has led a career dedicated to teaching the next generation of young people and he has done a truly spectacular job of preparing them.d American Award by the Maine Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Most recently, Tim received the Franklin H. Williams Award which recognizes ethnically diverse returned Peace Corps Volunteers who exemplify a commitment to community service and the Peace Corps' goal of promoting a cultural awareness among Americans.
Tim Wilson has devoted his life to promoting peace and understanding, to educating young people, and to empowering them to make their communities--and the world--a better place. I can think of no one more deserving of the Gerda Haas Award. Tim has led a career dedicated to teaching the next generation of young people and he has done a truly spectacular job of preparing them.
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