[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 11 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO JUDGE JAMES H. TOMPKINS

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I want to pay tribute to a dear friend of 
mine, Judge James H. Tompkins, who passed away on January 9, 1996 at 
the age of 84. He had an abiding love for politics, public policy, and 
the law, and was known in Democratic circles all over the country since 
he attended so many Democratic national conventions over the years.
  Jimmy Tompkins was a life-long resident of my home county, Colbert 
County, AL. He was a graduate of the University of Alabama and was a 
probate judge, district attorney, and practicing attorney in the 
county. He was a veteran of World War II, having served as lieutenant 
colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Office in Europe, Africa, 
India, China, and Burma.
  The family of Judge Tompkins is truly one of judges. He served as 
probate judge of Colbert County. His father, Nathaniel Pride Tompkins, 
also was a Colbert County probate judge, as was his wife, Maybeth 
Robbins Tompkins, who succeeded Jimmy as the judge of probate. Their 
son, Pride Tompkins, is currently a circuit judge in Colbert County. 
Jimmy's brother-in-law, David ``Pal'' Cochrane, served as judge of 
probate of Tuscaloosa County.
  Jimmy was an outstanding trial lawyer long before he became a probate 
judge. He practiced with the firm of Smith, Tompkins & Hughston, one of 
the leading firms in the State. Partner James E. Smith was a State 
senator at one time and was also the Democratic national committeeman 
from Alabama. Partner Harold V. Hughston served as a circuit judge of 
Colbert County.
  He had a wonderful, pleasing personality. The smile he always had on 
his face was hard to forget. Jimmy Tompkins had many friends and he was 
a great friend to many, including me, over the years, and will be 
sorely missed.
  I extend my sincerest condolences to Maybeth Tompkins and her entire 
family in the wake of their tremendous loss.

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