[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 54 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO HAROLD F. WHITE, U.S. BANKRUPTCY JUDGE--NORTHERN DISTRICT OF 
                                  OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS C. SAWYER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 1998

  Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
individual from my community of Akron, Ohio, Judge Harold F. White. On 
May 1, 1998, Judge White celebrated his 40th anniversary of service as 
a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Ohio.
  At the same time, Judge White, after 40 years of uninterrupted 
service to the court, also achieved the distinction of being the most 
senior bankruptcy judge in the United States.
  Having grown up during the Depression, Judge Harold White first began 
working as the manager of a paper route in his early teens, and later 
worked his way through college. He served four years in the Army during 
World War II and was decorated with the Purple Heart and four Battle 
Stars. Using the G.I. Bill, he attended the Akron Law School. He 
continued to serve in the Army Reserve and retired as a Lieutenant 
Colonel in 1960. Before his appointment in 1958 to the bankruptcy bench 
he worked as a county and city prosecutor. He also taught for 30 years 
as an Adjunct Professor of Law at The University of Akron.
  Throughout his 40 years on the bench, Judge White has seen the 
bankruptcy code undergo profound change and has watched as bankruptcy 
filings increased to the record levels of today. He has presided over 
more than 60,000 cases ranging from multimillion dollar corporations 
such as Sun Rubber, Inc., Terex Corporation, and Revco D.S., Inc. to 
individual wage earning debtors. Regardless of the situation, Judge 
White recognizes that financial difficulties can happen to anyone and 
treats all debtors who appear before him with the same respect and 
dignity. He is, in fact, most satisfied when the honest debtor gets the 
``fresh start'' contemplated by the bankruptcy code.
  Hailing from Connecticut, Judge White prides himself on his 
conservative New England views and frugal nature. This background has 
suited him well in his career as a bankruptcy judge. He is well known 
in our community for his habit of clipping coupons and sharing 
information on where to find a bargain. He frequently encourages his 
staff to learn to appreciate the wisdom of frugality. He has a sign in 
his office which reads ``Totum Pretrim Pro Cista Frumenti Ne Solveris 
Umquam''. Translated from Latin this means, ``You should never pay full 
price for a box of cereal.''
  Through his work in the bankruptcy court, Judge White has earned the 
respect and admiration not only of those who have come before his 
court, but of our entire community. Although he officially retired in 
January, 1994, he was recalled for service through January, 1997, and 
remains on the job to this day.
  I am pleased to have this opportunity to commend Judge Harold F. 
White on four decades of service to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and to 
our nation.

                          ____________________