[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 133 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12109-S12110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  SEYBOURN H. LYNNE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 170, S. 369.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 369) designating the Federal courthouse in 
     Decatur, Alabama, as the ``Seybourn H. Lynne Federal 
     Courthouse,'' and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise today to thank the Senate and the 
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for the unanimous 
support given toward the passage of S. 369, a bill which will rename 
the Federal Courthouse in Decatur, AL, in honor of Senior Judge 
Seybourn Harris Lynne.
  This bill, which is cosponsored by Senator Richard Shelby honors a 
distinguished Alabama jurist. Judge Lynne has contributed 45 years of 
dedicated service to the Federal bench, serving on the United States 
District Court for the northern District of Alabama.
  Judge Lynne is a native for Decatur, AL, where he graduated from 
Decatur High School in 1923. He attended the Alabama Polytechnic 
Institute, the present-day Auburn University, and he graduated from 
this outstanding university with highest distinction. Judge 

[[Page S12110]]
Lynne then went on to earn his law degree from the University of 
Alabama School of Law in 1930. While he was in law school, he served as 
track coach and assistant football coach at the university. Upon 
graduation from law school, Judge Lynne practiced law in a partnership 
formed with his father, Mr. Seybourn Arthur Lynne.
  In 1934, Judge Lynne was elected Judge of the Morgan County Court. He 
remained in that position until January 1941, when he took over the 
elected duties of judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Alabama. On 
June 16, 1937, he married Katherine Donaldson Brandau of Knoxville, TN. 
In December of 1942, he resigned from the bench to voluntarily enter 
the military. After earning the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was 
relieved of active duty in November of 1945 and awarded the Bronze Star 
Medal for meritorious service in operations against the enemy.
  When an opening occurred on the Federal bench, Alabama Senators 
Lister Hill and John Bankhead were called upon to provide an 
appropriate individual to be considered by the White House for this 
judgeship. After discussions and a reveiw of Judge Lynne's background, 
the decision was made to put forward his name. However, one important 
factor should be noted, namely that as he was being considered for a 
Federal judgeship, Judge Lynne was still serving his country in the 
South Pacific. In these days of self-serving rhetoric, it is refreshing 
to know that the outstanding reputation and attributes of Judge Lynne 
were already being recognized by his peers.
  In January 1946, President Harry S. Truman appointed Judge Lynne to 
the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. 
In 1953, he became the Chief Judge, and in 1973 he became Senior Judge.
  As Chief Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, Judge Lynne was 
known as an outstanding leader. His knowledge and management skills 
ensured a solid, working relationship between the Federal bench and the 
bar. The Northern District was not burdened with a stale and over-ripe 
docket and the court's caseload was kept timely and up-to-date thanks 
to the leadership of Judge Lynne.
  In addition to this leadership responsibilities, Judge Lynne worked 
hard and carried a full caseload. In fact, even in senior status, he 
continues to work long hours and keeps a complete docket of cases. Over 
the years, Judge Lynne has been recognized as an outstanding mediator 
who often was able to reconcile competing interests in order to forge a 
thoughtful compromise. A number of businesses and individuals in 
Alabama are growing and thriving today due to Judge Lynne's abilities 
as an arbiter who was able to settle complex and difficult disputes.
  In addition to his life on the bench, Judge Lynne has been very 
active in church, civic, school and professional activities. He has 
served his church, Southside Baptist Church--Birmingham, AL, As a 
Deacon, A men's bible class teacher, and a trustee. He has also served 
both the Crippled Children's Clinic of Birmingham and the eye 
Foundation Hospital of Birmingham as trustee. In 1967, he Served as the 
president of the University of Alabama law school Alumni Association.
  Therefore, I believe that the naming of this Federal Courthouse is a 
fitting tribute to Judge Seybourne Harris Lynne for his tireless work 
on behalf of the State and Federal bench.
  Mr. HATFIELD. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered and 
deemed read the third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be 
printed at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (S. 369) was deemed read the third time and passed, as 
follows:
                                 S. 369

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal Courthouse in Decatur, Alabama, is designated 
     as the ``Seybourn H. Lynne Federal Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. LEGAL REFERENCES.

       Any reference in any law, regulation, document, record, 
     map, or other paper of the United States to the building 
     referred to in section 1 is deemed to be a reference to the 
     Seybourn H. Lynne Federal Courthouse.
     

                          ____________________