[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 50 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DON C. NICKERSON

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I'd like to take a few minutes to 
honor Don C. Nickerson for his outstanding work as United States 
Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa.
  Don Nickerson has been a leader in the state of Iowa for thirty 
years, starting back when he served as Student Body Vice President and 
President of the Senior Men's Honorary at Iowa State, and as President 
of the Black Law Students Association at Drake Law School. After 
graduating from law school, he distinguished himself in community 
service, private practice, and as an Assistant United States Attorney 
in the Southern District before being appointed as U.S. Attorney for 
the district in 1993.
  During his years in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Don became known as a 
passionate and innovative leader. He established the Quad Cities Branch 
Office of the U.S. Attorney's office--the first ever interagency branch 
office established in the United States. He also served as Chair of the 
Health Care Fraud Subcommittee of the Attorney General's Advisory 
Committee and worked closely with Attorney General Reno to combat 
health care fraud.
  And Don was a personal mentor to Iowa's youth because he knew that 
reaching out to children early in life goes a long way in preventing 
them from straying in the future. In fact, Don was instrumental in 
establishing Camp DEFY--a camp and mentorship program to help kids stay 
away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco in Iowa.
  But Don has never been content to confine his service to the official 
duties of the U.S. Attorney. He's brought his passion for service to 
the classroom, serving as an Instructor with Drake University Legal 
Clinic and Des Moines Area Community College. He's brought it to civic 
organizations like Partnership for a Drug Free Iowa, the United Way of 
Central Iowa and the Iowa Commission on the Aging. And he's brought it 
to professional organizations like the Midwest High Intensity Drug 
Trafficking Area Demand Reduction Subcommittee of which he was chair 
and the Iowa State and National Bar Associations.
  When I think of the work that Don Nickerson has done for our state 
and our country, I'm reminded of a phrase from the Old Testament: ``The 
Law is a light.'' Don Nickerson has worked tirelessly to keep that 
light shining bright in Iowa and to make our state a safer, more just 
place to raise our children and live our lives.
  Don has served our state with honor and loyalty, and it is my 
pleasure to offer my deepest gratitude for his contributions.

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