[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 103 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF PATRICK EMMANUEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOE SCARBOROUGH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 12, 1996

  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, I address the House of Representatives 
today in recognition of a remarkable man's professional and personal 
achievements. Rarely does a man come along who truly makes a difference 
in the life of his community. As Robert Kennedy once observed, few men 
possess that special quality that allows them to actually bend history. 
Through 50 years of dedicated service and unwavering integrity, Patrick 
Emmanuel has made a difference in the life of northwest Florida and the 
national legal community.
  Today, the First Congressional District of Florida celebrates Patrick 
Emmanuel's 50 year commitment to excellence and professionalism in the 
legal field. Mr. Emmanuel's extraordinary achievements put him in a 
league of his own. He has honored his community by serving as president 
of the Florida Bar, as a member of the Board of Governors for the 
Florida Bar, as president of the Florida Bar Foundation, as a fellow 
for the American College of Trial Lawyers, as fellow for the American 
College of Probate Counsel and as a fellow for the American Bar 
Foundation. Perhaps his finest hour as a member of the legal profession 
was his courageous stand against the American Bar Association's 
ideological drive to politicize that organization instead of focusing 
primarily on the promotion of professionalism in the legal field.
  If Patrick Emmanuel's accomplishments were limited solely to the 
legal field, his contribution to our community would be commendable. 
But many consider his achievements outside the legal field to be his 
greatest contribution to northwest Florida. Mr. Emmanuel served as a 
member of the Board of Directors of the Northwest Florida Crippled 
Children's Home for over 20 years. He was also appointed by the 
Governor as a member of the Florida Children's Commission and served as 
chairman of the Advisory Board of Sacred Heart Hospital. Most 
importantly, he succeeded where it counts the most: as the respected 
father of 7 children and 11--and counting--grandchildren.
  While many have respected Patrick Emmanuel from afar, I had the 
privilege of working with him as a summer law clerk in 1989. I recall 
the law clerks and attorneys holding Mr. Emmanuel in a level of esteem 
remarkably high for such a cynical age. Most importantly, I observed 
his total commitment to excellence and integrity. That commitment not 
only served as an example to summer law clerks such as myself, but also 
to his clients, his law firm and his community.
  On my Capitol Hill desk sits the pen set Mr. Emmanuel presented me at 
the end of my summer employment. The set is a reminder of a summer 
where I was introduced to a great man who had a great impact not only 
on my life, but on the lives of so many others who may never have had a 
chance to thank him. As the U.S. Representative for that region, I 
thank Mr. Emmanuel tonight on behalf of all those lives he has 
enriched. Thank you, Mr. Emmanuel.

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