[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE HONORABLE JOHN J. CALLAHAN AWARDED THE GAUDETE MEDAL FROM SAINT 
                         BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Justice 
John J. Callahan, New York's longest serving Judge on the Supreme Court 
Appellate Division, Fourth Department. For 21 years he epitomized the 
honor and dignity to which all of us engaged in the political life of 
our nation should aspire.
  What an exemplary alumni Saint Bonaventure University has chosen on 
which to bestow this prestigious tribute. The Gaudete Medal is awarded 
to leaders who have exemplified the philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi 
in their professional and personal lives. This spirit has been evident 
in Justice Callahan's dedication to his court, community, family, and 
his inspiring courage in spite of personal suffering.
  To begin, one must know that Jack is a fellow Irish-American and the 
great and indispensable achievement of the Irish is that they made it 
American to be ethnic. He has contributed significantly to the Irish-
American community in Buffalo. On the contribution of the Irish I have 
written:

       What did the Irish do? First, they stayed in the cities, 
     remaining highly visible. Next, they kept to their faith. 
     Thus the Roman Catholic Church became a major American 
     institution. Then they went into politics.

  St. Bonaventure University has seen fit to honor a gentleman and a 
patriot. I knew of Jack's dedication to the Navy or should I say the 
Silent Service from working with him on numerous projects for the City 
of Buffalo, his cherished home. As a result of his tireless efforts all 
were successes.
  It was back in 1978, at Jack's request, that I wrote to W. Graham 
Clayton who was the Secretary of the Navy at the time, to urge the Navy 
to name a submarine in honor of the Queen City of the Lakes. A nuclear 
powered attack submarine, the SSN 715 was christened the Buffalo in 
1983 with the Judge, his wife Lillian, and their son Thomas, then a 
Midshipman at Annapolis, looking on. There hadn't been a ship named for 
Buffalo since 1922.
  As a submarine veteran of World War II, the Judge felt that it was 
imperative that a decommissioned World War II type submarine be an 
integral part of the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Servicemen's Park. A 
park that he himself helped make a reality. The USS Croaker is docked 
on the Buffalo River at the foot of Main Street in no small part to 
Judge Callahan's efforts. Some 20 of Jack's shipmates from the USS 
Sterlet SS 392 joined together to reminisce about their combat days in 
the Pacific theater aboard the USS Croaker 1996. As one who served in 
the Pacific theater, I can attest to the existence of a special 
camaraderie that unites those at sea for months at a time.
  After returning from the war, Jack continued his education with the 
help of the G.I. Bill, as did I. Jack earned his undergraduate degree 
in Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University in 1951 and 
a Judicial Doctorate from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1954. 
Jack was honored by his alma mater, the University of Buffalo, with the 
Distinguished Alumni Award for the Judiciary in 1989.
  The son of Irish immigrants from County Kerry, Judge Callahan 
possesses an exemplary work ethic and ability to endure any trial. Jack 
and Lillian Hart Callahan will be married for 40 years this July and 
from their union has come eight children and soon to be nine 
grandchildren. They have been truly blessed.
  Thomas and Mary Bridget Callahan, Jack's parents, saw that their six 
children received a Catholic education through the Great Depression. 
Jack and Lillian made the opportunity for Catholic education available 
to their children and were sure to stress the value of such a 
privilege. Those efforts were not in vain. Their sons John Joseph Jr. 
and Patrick Francis are physicians. Appropriately, Patrick Francis, 
named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, graduated from Saint 
Bonaventure University. Thomas, Timothy, and Michael all graduated from 
the United States Naval Academy. Not to be outdone--their three 
daughters; Mary Catherine Malley is a corporate attorney with Hodgson 
Russ Andrews Woods & Goodyear in Buffalo, Maureen Gallagher is a 
dentist, and Kathleen is my Deputy Press Secretary. I should thank Jack 
and Lillian for loaning her to me.
  His legal background is both extensive and impressive. Judge Callahan 
practiced law as a trial lawyer in Buffalo for 20 years and served as a 
confidential clerk to New York State Supreme Court Justice Ann Mikol. 
He was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in 1975 and 
appointed to the Appellate Division by my good friend Governor Hugh 
Carey in 1979.
  In his exceptional judicial career he has sat on approximately 20,000 
cases. This past fall the Judge was honored by the Catholic Lawyers 
Guild as the recipient of the St. Thomas More Award which was given for 
his outstanding service to the legal community and the community at 
large.
  It is with great pleasure that I join his family and many friends 
from Saint Bonaventure University and Buffalo to applaud this truly 
remarkable man.

                          ____________________