[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 72 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     REMEMBERING RUSSELL A. FREEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2000

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, this year California has lost one of its 
finest attorneys and the Congress has lost a good friend and adviser.
  In mid March, Russell A. Freeman passed away at his home near Los 
Angeles. As the General Counsel of Security Pacific Corporation, Russ 
Freeman, in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, undertook many of the early 
steps at broadening the range of bank product and service offerings in 
order to strengthen the banking charter and meet customer demands. Much 
of his legal work set the intellectual and practical foundation for the 
landmark financial legislation that passed the Congress just this past 
year.
  Security Pacific, based in Los Angeles, was the nation's fifth 
largest banking firm and produced many new business and consumer 
innovations. Moving from his native New York, Russ Freeman joined the 
bank in 1959 and rose from staff attorney to General Counsel. By his 
work there for some 33 years, he demonstrated those somewhat rare 
values today of loyalty and commitment.
  Russ Freeman received many accolades and awards over the years, 
including Outstanding Corporate Counsel from the L.A. County Bar. More 
significant, however, Russ Freeman served as mentor to numerous 
attorneys who are now working in various financial and non-financial 
firms across the country. He instilled in these attorneys--and in his 
corporate and legal colleagues--a strong work ethic, a demand for 
excellence in legal analysis and the need to conduct one's work in a 
professional manner. And he communicated these values in a fashion that 
earned him the highest respect and regard. This represents an important 
legacy for the banking and legal communities. Russ represented his 
company with tenacity, honesty and creativity and he was a strong 
advocate for the banking industry.
  Russ Freeman frequently provided input to me and to other members of 
the House and Senate on banking and financial issues. He brought the 
straight story, good or bad, and we relied on him for accurate 
information and new ideas. His vision reinforced the impetus in 
Congress to improve financial services regulation to the benefit of 
consumers and to keep our banking system the strongest in the world. We 
have lost a good friend with the death of Russ Freeman.
  Our thoughts and condolences go out to his many friends and 
colleagues and, particularly, to his son, James, daughter, Elizabeth, 
and granddaughter, Katelynn.

                          ____________________