[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E185-E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO JUSTICE FRED L. HENLEY
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HON. IKE SKELTON
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, January 25, 1995
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to former
Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred L. Henley, who recently
passed away in Jefferson City, MO. Born October 25, 1911, in
Caruthersville, MO, Chief Justice Henley was an outstanding Missourian
who served many appointments within the Missouri justice system.
In 1934, he received his bachelor of laws degree from Cumberland
University in Lebanon, TN. In 1935 he was admitted to the Missouri bar.
Ten years later he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the
United States.
He established a general law practice in Caruthersville, MO in 1936.
That same year he was elected city attorney, a position he held for 3
years. In 1939, he was appointed city counselor. He was city counselor
until 1942 when he went to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps, in 1946 he
was commissioned a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
After his military service, Henley served as judge of the 38th
Judicial Circuit from October 1955 to February 1960. Afterwards
returning to private practice forming the firm Henley and Fowlkes.
Appointed chairman of the Missouri State Highway Commission in
December 1961, a position he served until April 1964 when he was
appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court. Originally appointed by
Governor John M. Dalton, Henley remained on the court for a 12-year
term that ended in December 1978. From 1969 throughout 1971, he served
the court as Chief Justice.
Judge Henley also belonged to, and led, many civic and fraternal
organizations within his community. He was an active member of the
Presbyterian Church. Other organizations include, Caruthersville Lodge
No. 461, A.F. & A.M.; and Missouri Consistory No. 1, M.R.S.; the Moolah
Temple, St. Louis; Post 88 of the American Legion in Pemiscot County;
the American Bar Association; and the Missouri Bar Association; the
38th Judicial Circuit Bar Association; the Caruthersville Rotary Club;
the Caruthersville Board of Education; the Pemiscot County Chapter of
the American Red Cross.
A devoted person in all he undertook, Judge Henley will be missed by
all who knew him. I urge my colleagues to join me in my condolences to
the family that he leaves. Survivors include three daughters, Sally
Kate Sisson, Lynda Wayne Walters, and Karen Janet
[[Page E186]] Currie; one son, Joseph Oliver Henley, and three
grandchildren.
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