[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2592-H2594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ROBERT K. RODIBAUGH UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURTHOUSE

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill (S. 460) to designate the United States 
courthouse located at 401 South Michigan Street in South Bend, Indiana, 
as the ``Robert K. Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 460

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF ROBERT K. RODIBAUGH UNITED STATES 
                   BANKRUPTCY COURTHOUSE.

       The United States courthouse located at 401 South Michigan 
     Street in South Bend, Indiana, shall be known and designated 
     as the ``Robert K. Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy 
     Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Robert K.

[[Page H2593]]

     Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duncan). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 460 designates the United States courthouse in South 
Bend, Indiana, as the ``Robert K. Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy 
Courthouse.'' Judge Rodibaugh served the northern district of Indiana 
in the area of bankruptcy law since his appointment as a bankruptcy 
judge in 1960. During his tenure he oversaw the growth of the 
bankruptcy court from one small courtroom with a part-time referee and 
a clerk's office of four employees in South Bend to four separate 
courtrooms located throughout northern Indiana. In 1985, Judge 
Rodibaugh was appointed Chief Bankruptcy Judge and assumed senior 
status in 1986.
  Judge Rodibaugh has fulfilled his duties as a referee and a judge in 
bankruptcy proceedings with patience, fairness, dedication and legal 
scholarship, which is most worthy of recognition. It is a fitting 
tribute to honor him and his accomplishments in this manner today.
  This marks the third time the House has passed legislation honoring 
Judge Rodibaugh. I am pleased to note that this bill passed the other 
body earlier this year, and we can safely say that the third time is 
the charm.
  I support this act and urge my colleagues to support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I join in supporting S. 460, a bill to designate the 
Federal bankruptcy court in South Bend, Indiana, as the ``Robert K. 
Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy Courthouse.''
  As my colleagues all know, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer) 
introduced an identical bill in the 104th and 105th Congress. 
Unfortunately, the Senate did not consider these measures before it 
adjourned.
  Judge Rodibaugh has served the citizens of Indiana with honor and 
distinction since 1960 and at the age of 80 years is one of the 
Nation's most senior judges.
  Judge Rodibaugh is a native of Elkhart County, Indiana, and received 
his education in the public schools. He graduated from Notre Dame and 
received his law degree from Notre Dame in 1941.
  During his judicial career, he has seen the rapid growth of the 
bankruptcy courts. He has seen the courts grow from one small courtroom 
with a part-time referee and a clerk's office with four employees to 
four different courtrooms in the cities of South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary 
and Lafayette.
  Judge Rodibaugh is an active member of the Board of Governors of the 
St. Joseph County Bar Association, the Boy Scouts of America, the Red 
Cross and the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges.
  Judge Rodibaugh is noted for his fairness, dedication and legal 
scholarship. He has set an example for his judicial clerks with his 
high standards and judicial excellence. It is fitting and proper to 
honor Judge Rodibaugh with this designation.
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 460 which 
recognizes the outstanding public service record of Judge Robert Kurtz 
Rodibaugh, a loyal and dedicated friend, and the senior bankruptcy 
judge for the South Bend Division of the Northern District of Indiana.
  It is truly a great honor for me to recognize Judge Rodibaugh, who 
has consistently demonstrated generosity and selfless dedication to the 
citizens and legal community of Northern Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker, as you may recall, I introduced identical legislation 
which was passed by the House of Representatives during the last 
Congress. I was honored to sponsor this legislation and pleased that 
the entire Indiana Congressional delegation cosponsored my bill.
  Unfortunately, the measure was not considered by the U.S. Senate 
before the 105th Congress adjourned. However, this legislation was 
reintroduced by the senior Senator of Indiana, Richard Lugar, and 
passed by the full Senate last month. This Senate-passed bill, S. 460, 
now under consideration, designates the recently dedicated courthouse 
on the corner of Western and South Michigan Streets in South Bend, 
Indiana in honor of Judge Rodibaugh and his numerous contributions to 
the legal community.
  Last year, I also had the privilege to attend the dedication ceremony 
for the ``Robert K. Rodibaugh United States Bankruptcy Courthouse.'' 
While this courthouse has already been dedicated, I believe that S. 460 
is an appropriate way to express our gratitude for Judge Rodibaugh's 
life-long dedication to public service.
  Judge Rodibaugh is recognized by his community and his peers as an 
honorable man worthy of such a tribute. He is highly regarded 
throughout the entire country and has been a pillar of the community. 
Moreover, he is greatly respected by other judges and the bankruptcy 
bar in Northern Indiana. Since his initial appointment as a referee in 
bankruptcy in November 1960 and throughout his legal career as a 
bankruptcy judge, Judge Rodibaugh has served the citizens and legal 
community of the Northern District of Indiana wisely, efficiently, and 
honorably.
  A native of Elkhart County, Indiana, Judge Rodibaugh graduated from 
the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1940 
and attended the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he served 
as the Associate Editor of the Notre Dame Law Review between 1940 and 
1941.
  Judge Rodibaugh received his Juris Doctor degree in 1941. After 
gaining his admittance to practice law in 1941, Judge Rodibaugh entered 
active duty as a private in the United States Army. He was discharged 
in 1946 as a Captain after serving in the infantry and armored forces 
during World War II.
  Following his release, Judge Rodibaugh entered private practice in 
1946. He also served as the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of the 60th 
Judicial Circuit, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, from 1948 to 1950, and 
again from 1953 to 1957. In addition, Judge Rodibaugh served as 
Attorney for the St. Joseph County Board of Zoning Appeals between 1958 
and 1960.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge Rodibaugh received the 33 Years of Distinguished 
Service to Bench and Bar Award from the Bankruptcy Judges of the 
Seventh Circuit in 1993, the 50 Year Golden Career Award from the 
Indiana State Bar Association in 1991, and the Notre Dame Law School's 
Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1991. Some of the significant cases that 
Judge Rodibaugh has decided include Papelow v. Foley and In the Matter 
of John Kelly Jeffers. Judge Rodibaugh has always enjoyed the challenge 
of bankruptcy law and has a special talent for working with corporate 
reorganizations.
  Recently, Judge Rodibaugh said: ``I still think bankruptcy law is one 
of the most fascinating areas of the law. When a reorganization is 
successful, it is a satisfying feeling.''
  Mr. Speaker, throughout his tenure, Judge Rodibaugh has presided over 
the growth of the bankruptcy court in Northern Indiana from one small 
courtroom with a part-time referee and a clerk's office of two 
employees in South Bend, Indiana, to four different courtrooms in the 
cities of South Bend, Fort Wayne, Gary, and Lafayette, Indiana, with 
four full-time judges and a clerk's office of over forty employees. 
According to his colleague, Judge Harry Dees, also a bankruptcy judge 
for the Northern District of Indiana: ``Judge Rodibaugh never 
complained about all the weekly traveling, he just did it.''
  Moreover, Judge Rodibaugh has fulfilled his duties as a bankruptcy 
judge with patience, fairness, dedication and legal scholarship which 
is most worthy of recognition. His high standards have benefitted the 
many law clerks and judicial personnel who have served under his 
tutelage, the lawyers who have practiced before the bankruptcy court, 
as well as the citizens residing in the Northern District of Indiana.
  In 1985, Judge Rodibaugh was appointed Chief Judge of the U.S. 
Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana. He served in 
that position until he assumed full-time recall status as a senior 
judge one year later. Today, Judge Rodibaugh continues in this 
position, carrying a full case load, and he has no plans to cut back on 
his work with the court. Currently, Judge Rodibaugh and his wife, 
Eunice, live in South Bend, Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important for me to indicate that the firm of 
Panzica Development Company with Western Avenue Properties, LLC, 
graciously agreed to name the new privately-owned courthouse building 
in Judge Rodibaugh's honor, owing to his unblemished character and 
numerous professional achievements in the bankruptcy field.
  I am confident that the ``Robert K. Rodibaugh United States 
Bankruptcy Courthouse'' is an appropriate title for the new bankruptcy 
court facility. Judge Radibaugh is a shining example of the importance 
of public service, whose tireless contributions provide

[[Page H2594]]

an invaluable service to our community. I am confident that Judge 
Rodibaugh will continue to play a constructive and important role in 
our community, and will continue to serve as a powerful inspiration to 
all of those who come into contact with him.
   Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 460.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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