[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 194 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18126-S18127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM K. SAHR, LEGAL CHAMPION

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, the legal profession in my home State of 
South Dakota has lost a great counsel. Bill Sahr, a long-time friend 
and supporter, passed away on Monday. I will miss him.
  For many years, Bill headed the State Bar of South Dakota. In that 
capacity, he epitomized the very best of the legal profession in our 
State. An indefatigable worker on behalf of the legal community, Bill 
also served the people of our State and Nation with great distinction.
  Bill's public service career began with a memorable tour of duty with 
the U.S. Army during World War II. During the war, he was with the 
troops at the Battle of the Bulge, later receiving four battle stars 
along with his European Medal. Beginning his legal career in our 
State's capital, Pieree, Bill later served two terms as State's 
attorney from Hughes County. In 1962, Bill began walking the two blocks 
from the lovely historic home he shared with his wife Carla and their 
children to the State capitol, where he served two terms as a 
legislator.
  His legal background, coupled with his legislative experience, made 
Bill a perfect candidate to head the State Bar of South Dakota. Bill 
played a major role in shaping and bringing into being South Dakota's 
present-day legal system. It is hard to imagine anyone who had more 
influence on the legal system and the profession of law in our State 
than Bill Sahr.
  In addition to being a great professional, Bill Sahr was a great 
individual. He had a quiet demeanor coupled with a keen intellect and 
sharp wit. You could count on his word. Bill's engaging smile made you 
want to stay and listen to him while he worked his quiet, highly 
effective powers of persuasion upon you.
  During his threescore and eleven years on this earth, Bill Sahr 
accomplished the work of several lifetimes for the profession he loved 
and the people of South Dakota. Bill Sahr--a legal legend of our 
State--will be truly missed.
  I ask unanimous consent that the obituary for Bill Sahr from the 
December 5, 1995, edition of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Argus Leader, Dec. 5, 1995]

             Sahr, 71, Worked Hard to Help Judicial System

                         (By Denise D. Tucker)

       Pierre.--With a quiet and unassuming manner, Bill Sahr 
     often stood in the shadows and rarely took credit for the 
     work that he did in shaping the South Dakota legal system.
     
[[Page S 18127]]

       ``He had a hand or influence on every lawyer in the state 
     for 35 years,'' said Thomas Barnett, executive director of 
     the South Dakota Bar Association in Pierre.
       Sahr, 71, who was serving as secretary-treasury of the 
     State Bar Association, died Monday, Dec. 4, 1995, at his 
     home, due to lung cancer.
       ``He had a history of over 30 years in Bar leadership,'' 
     said Barnett. ``I was fortunate to work with him through most 
     of my career.''
       During his career, Sahr, through the Bar Association, 
     established the nation's first prepaid continuing legal 
     education; he spearheaded legislative approval for passage of 
     funding for a new University of South Dakota Law School; and 
     worked for improvement of judicial compensation.
       He also introduced the first bill for a state employee 
     retirement system. ``This was a biggie for the state,'' said 
     Sahr's son, Dan of Sioux Falls. ``Before that there was 
     nothing for state employees.''
       Barnett said, ``He worked to serve the people of South 
     Dakota. He was instrumental in lobbying pieces that helped 
     everybody.''
       Beresford attorney Robert ``Bob'' Frieberg acknowledged 
     Sahr's contribution to the state.
       ``His influence shaped the Bar, judiciary and modern legal 
     system in South Dakota,'' he said. ``His was the biggest 
     influence of a single person.''
       Frieberg said that Sahr was committed to improve the legal 
     system whenever he could.
       Although he didn't know for sure, Frieberg believed that 
     Sahr had a sense that he had an obligation to leave the world 
     better than he found it.
       ``He was just a neat guy,'' he said. ``One of a kind. I'm 
     gonna miss him.''
       With a tear sliding down his face, Frieberg added, ``He was 
     a great friend.''
       Sahr's legal career began in 1957, when he opened a law 
     practice in Pierre. He served for two terms as the Hughes 
     County States Attorney, from 1958 to 1962. He then served two 
     terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives, from 1962 
     to 1967. He was elected in 1961 as secretary-treasurer of the 
     state Bar. He retired on July 31, 1989, from his position as 
     executive director of the Bar Association, after 28 years 
     with the organization.
       William Karcher Sahr was born July 21, 1924, in Pierre. He 
     attended Pierre Public School and was graduated from Lake 
     Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Ill., in 1942.
       He served in the Army from 1943 to 1946, during World War 
     II. He served in the Battle of the Bulge. He received the 
     European Medal with four Battle Stars.
       In 1954, he graduated from Northwestern University in 
     Evanston, Ill., and from its law school in 1957.
       He married Carla Aplan in 1953.
       From 1973 to 1978, he was a member of the Pierre Board of 
     Education. He also served on the St. Mary's Hospital Law 
     Advisory Board, president of the Pierre Carnegie Library 
     Board for 19 years, and on the Pierre City Board of 
     Adjustment for 10 years.
       He was a member of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce, 
     American Legion, VFW, the Elks Club, Sts. Peter and Paul 
     Catholic Church, the American Bar Association, the Jackrabbit 
     Bar Association, and the National Association of Bar 
     Executives.
       He received a Recognition Award from the University of 
     South Dakota Law School in 1982, the Appreciation Award from 
     the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, and the McKusick 
     Award from the USD School of Law in 1987.
       ``He was proud of this,'' Dan Sahr said, of his father 
     receiving the McKusick Award.
       The award recognizes an outstanding member of the South 
     Dakota legal community for contributions to the profession.
       In addition to his wife and son, survivors include four 
     other children: James, Los Angeles; Marguerite Moreland, 
     Littleton, Colo.; Elizabeth Squyer, Sioux Falls; and Robert, 
     Boulder, Colo.
       Services, for Sahr, begin at 11 a.m. Thursday in Sts. Peter 
     and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre, with burial in Riverside 
     Cemetery.
       Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Feigum 
     Funeral Home in Pierre. Prayer service begins at 7:30 p.m. 
     Wednesday in the funeral home.
       The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the 
     form of donations to the Countryside Hospice of Pierre or to 
     the South Dakota Law School Foundation.

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