[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8095-H8096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 WILLIAM AUGUSTUS BOOTLE FEDERAL BUILDING AND UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 595) to designate the Federal building and U.S. courthouse 
located at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon, GA, as the ``William Augustus 
Bootle Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 595

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

     SECTION 1.  DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building and United States courthouse located 
     at 475 Mulberry Street in Macon, Georgia, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``William Augustus Bootle Federal Building 
     and United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any references in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     and United States courthouse referred to in section 1 shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``William Augustus Bootle 
     Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Kim] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] .
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 595 simply designates the U.S. courthouse in Macon, 
GA, as the ``William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and United States 
Courthouse.''
  Judge Bootle was appointed to the U.S. District Court by President 
Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 20, 1954. He presided as district judge and 
acted as chief judge handling all six divisions of the court in six 
different courthouses, in 71 counties of Georgia.
  Throughout his career, Judge Bootle was highly regarded by lawyers 
throughout the district for his keen intellect and warm sense of humor. 
He is, perhaps, most widely recognized for his decision in 1961 
ordering the admittance of two African-American students to the 
University of Georgia. This decision led to the desegregation of 
Georgia's public school system.
  The naming of this courthouse in Judge Bootle's honor is certainly a 
fitting tribute to a distinguished jurist. I support this bill and urge 
my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 595, and I want to commend my 
colleague, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Chambliss], for sponsoring 
this legislation to designate the U.S. courthouse in Macon, GA, as the 
``William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and United States 
Courthouse.''

                              {time}  1430

  Judge Bootle began his judicial career in 1925 when he was admitted 
to the Georgia bar. He has served the people of Georgia since 1928, 
when he was first appointed assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle 
District of Georgia. In 1954, he was appointed U.S. district judge and 
served as the chief judge from 1961 through 1972, where at that time he 
had taken senior status.
  Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely fitting and proper to join forces with 
the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Chambliss] in recognizing the 
outstanding service of Judge Bootle. I am proud to support this bill. I 
want to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] again for the 
effort he has put forward for both sides of the aisle on this 
legislation here, and I want to thank the staff, Mr. Barnett and Ms. 
Brita, for their efforts in helping bring it along.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 595, a bill to designate the 
U.S. Courthouse in Macon, GA, as the ``William Augustus Bootle Federal 
Building and United States Courthouse''.
  Judge Bootle began his judicial career in 1925 when he was admitted 
to the Georgia bar. He has served the people of Georgia since 1928 when 
he was appointed assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of 
Georgia.
  In 1954 he was appointed U.S. district judge and served as the chief 
judge from 1961 through 1972, when he took senior status.
  It is fitting and proper to honor his long, productive career by this 
designation.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
express my strong support for H.R. 595, the William Augustus Bootle 
Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. This is an issue of great 
importance to me, as well as the citizens of Macon, GA.
  On February 5, 1997, I introduced this legislation in the House of 
Representatives. H.R. 595 is similar to a bill I introduced in the 
104th Congress, H.R. 4119. H.R. 4119 passed in the House by voice vote, 
but unfortunately was vetoed in the U.S. Senate along with many other 
naming bills.
  H.R. 595 passed in the Senate on June 12, 1997, and I urge my 
colleagues to pass this legislation in the House and send this bill to 
the President for his signature.
  This courthouse is vital to judicial proceedings in the State of 
Georgia. It serves as the U.S. District Court for the Middle District 
of Georgia which covers much of the territory of Georgia's 8th 
Congressional District which I represent. Mr. Speaker, there is not a 
more deserving individual to name this building and courthouse for than 
Judge Bootle and the current judges of the court wholeheartedly agree.
  Judge Bootle received his undergraduate and juris doctor from Mercer 
University located in Macon. He was admitted to the bar of the State of 
Georgia in 1925. Judge Bootle honorably served the U.S. District Court 
for the Middle District of Georgia for a number of years. Upon his 
appointment by President Eisenhower, Judge Bootle served as district 
judge from 1954 to 1961 before serving as chief judge from 1961 to 
1972. Moreover, he served the Middle District as assistant U.S. 
attorney and as U.S. attorney from 1928 to 1933. Judge Bootle also 
served the Macon community as dean of Mercer University's School of Law 
from 1933 to 1937. His distinguished service is admired, appreciated, 
and recognized throughout the State of Georgia.
  Upon Judge Bootle's appointment to the bench as the judge for the 
Middle District of Georgia in 1954, the chief judge was ill and 
remained so for an extended period of time, and until 1962 when another 
judge was appointed, Judge Bootle handled all six divisions of the 
middle district of Georgia which included the Athens, Macon, Columbus, 
Americus, Albany, and Valdosta Divisions. Those six courthouses covered 
71 counties in Georgia.
  Judge Bootle was also responsible for the admittance of the first 
black students into the University of Georgia. I would like to take 
this opportunity to quote from a book written by Frederick Allen 
entitled ``Atlanta Rising.'' This book deals with a lot of history 
which took place in the Atlanta area during the years of the civil 
rights era.
  The two black applicants who were denied admittance into the 
University of Georgia were Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes. They 
filed suit in the middle district of Georgia, and quoting from this 
book, I read as follows:

       Two black applicants, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, 
     went to the court attacking the welter of excuses University 
     of Georgia officials had concocted to keep them out. The two 
     made a convincing case that the only reason they had been 
     denied admission was segregation, pure and simple. In a 
     ruling issued late on the afternoon of Friday, January 6, 
     1961, Judge William A. Bootle ordered Hunter and Holmes 
     admitted to the school, not in 6 months or a year, but bright 
     and early the next Monday morning.

  Judge Bootle has dedicated himself to years of service as a humble 
steward of justice, his community, the State of Georgia, and the United 
States. Due to this level of commitment, all of these societies are 
better places. Naming the courthouse the ``William Augustus Bootle 
Federal Building and United States Courthouse'' is an appropriate way 
to ensure the judge's efforts will always be remembered.
  Again, I would like to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of naming 
the Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Macon after this 
honorable, deserving individual.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any other speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I, too, Mr. Speaker, yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 595.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.

[[Page H8096]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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