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PPQ William F. Helms Student Scholarship
After graduating from Auburn University,
Bill Helms joined APHIS in 1958
and worked for PPQ in field offices in
Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. He
was assigned to headquarters in 1980 as
the associate deputy administrator for
PPQ and was subsequently promoted in
1986 to be deputy administrator, the
highest ranking position in his division
and the position he retained until his
untimely death in 1990.
Bill was an active proponent for change
and management improvement. He also
looked for better ways of doing business.
Through many organizational changes,
he never lost sight of the people element
and the worth of the organization’s most
valuable asset, its people. An example of
his feelings is reflected in a comment
made after a major reorganization in the
late 1980’s: “There’s been some skepticism
about the reorganization—many
people are resistant to change no matter
what. But I believe that it doesn’t make
any difference how many boxes you
have on the chart, how many people you
have, how many interrelationships—if
you have good, dedicated people, you’re
going to get results. I think that’s why
APHIS has succeeded over the years.” The William F. Helms Student Scholarship
Program continues the legacy Bill
worked hard to establish and is further
evidence of the agency’s continuing
commitment to support and hire the
best and brightest young people with an
interest in the mission of PPQ.