[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  HONORING JUDGE MYRON DONOVAN CROCKER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 14, 1999

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Myron 
Donovan Crocker for his outstanding contributions to the community.
  As long as there has been an Eastern District of California, there 
has been a Judge Myron Donovan Crocker. Judge Crocker was born in 
Pasadena on September 4, 1915 and was raised in Fresno. He attended 
Fresno schools and graduated from Fresno High School in 1933 and Fresno 
State College in 1937. He received his law degree from the University 
of California, Boalt Hall, in May of 1940. His first job was with the 
FBI in New York, first in Albany and then in New York City during World 
War II handling counter-espionage matters. Judge Crocker and his wife 
Elaine were married in New York while he was stationed there.
  After the war ended, the FBI granted Crocker's request for a transfer 
closer to home and he was assigned to Los Angeles. In 1946, he entered 
private practice in Chowchilla and worked as Deputy District Attorney 
for Madera County. In 1951, he became Judge of the Chowchilla Justice 
Court, while continuing his private practice. He was appointed Superior 
Court Judge of Madera County in 1958, and remained there for only 1 
year before his appointment to the Federal Bench.
  Upon Judge Crocker's appointment to the Federal Bench on September 
21, 1959, he spent most of his time in Los Angeles and San Diego. At 
that time, the Federal court in Fresno was part of the Southern 
District of California. With redistricting in September, 1966, Judge 
Crocker became the Chief Judge of the Eastern District of California, 
and was the sole Federal judge in the Fresno district. His duties as 
Chief Judge included overseeing the completion of the Federal 
Courthouse in Fresno. Judge Crocker stepped down as Chief Judge in June 
1967.
  Although the caseload in Fresno grew quickly after redistricting, 
Judge Crocker still traveled frequently to sit on cases throughout the 
United States, including being in Washington, D.C. in 1968 when Martin 
Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Judge Crocker remained the sole 
Federal judge in Fresno until 1979, when an additional judgeship was 
approved and Judge Edward D. Price was appointed. In 1981, Judge 
Crocker took Senior status and Judge Robert E. Coyle was appointed in 
his place. As a senior judge, Judge Crocker has continued to take cases 
and has made himself available for high profile cases outside his 
district.
  Judge Crocker is held in highest esteem by his peers, staff and the 
legal community for his legal ability, demeanor, kindness, and 
fairness. As a colleague stated, ``He is held in universal affectionate 
esteem.''
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Judge Myron Donovan Crocker for his 
service to Fresno and the Eastern District of California on his 40th 
anniversary of service. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing 
Judge Crocker many more years of continued success and happiness.

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