[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 126 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6854-H6855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE CAREER AND WORK OF JUSTICE C. CLIFTON
YOUNG
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 417) recognizing and honoring the career and
work of Justice C. Clifton Young.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 417
Whereas Justice C. Clifton Young, a native Nevadan, has
served in public office since 1950;
Whereas Justice Young was elected to the House of
Representatives in 1952 where he served for 2 terms and never
missed a vote;
Whereas Justice Young served for 14 years in the Nevada
State Senate where he focused principally on land use issues;
Whereas Justice Young has served on the Nevada Supreme
Court since 1984;
Whereas Justice Young was inducted into the Nevada State
Senate Hall of Fame in 1995;
Whereas in addition to his service in elected office,
Justice Young has remained active in various community and
service organizations, including serving as President of the
National Wildlife Foundation;
Whereas Justice Young attended the University of Nevada in
Reno, and Harvard Law School;
Whereas Justice Young proudly served as an officer in the
103rd Infantry Division in France, Germany, and Austria
during World War II;
Whereas Justice Young has been a loving husband to Jane
Hempfling Young for almost 50 years, and together they have
raised 5 children; and
Whereas Justice Young stands as a role model to all people
of the United States as a proud and successful public
servant: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors the dedication and commitment of Justice C.
Clifton Young to the people of Nevada and the United States;
(2) congratulates Justice Young on his long and successful
career; and
(3) expresses its best wishes to Justice Young upon his
retirement from the Nevada Supreme Court.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Holden) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Sensenbrenner).
General Leave
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 417.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution was introduced by our distinguished
colleague, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
The honoree, C. Clifton Young, was a Member of Congress representing
Nevada and currently serves on the Nevada Supreme Court. He has had a
remarkable career beginning in his childhood where he sold newspapers,
was the local soda jerk, the valedictorian of his high school class,
went to the University of Nevada at Reno, and was the only student with
membership in both the University Singers and the college wrestling
team. He joined the Army after college and served tours of duty in
France, Germany and Austria and was honorably discharged as a major at
the age of 23. He then went to Harvard Law School. I think that may
have compromised his Western values a bit. But from there he went on to
have over a half century of public service.
He served two terms as Nevada's then lone representative in Congress.
He was elected to the Nevada State Senate, following his service in
Congress, and served 14 years there. And in 1984 he was elected to the
Nevada Supreme Court and will have served 18 years until his retirement
at the end of the year.
[[Page H6855]]
He has been active in the Boy Scouts, the YMCA, and he also served as
president of the National Wildlife Federation. I have a lengthy
statement I will put in the Record, but I think that he is really an
example of the American dream come true and an individual who returned
many of his talents to his community, his State and his Nation, serving
both in volunteer capacities and in the legislative and judicial
branches of government.
H. Res. 417 introduced by Representative Gibbons of Nevada,
recognizes the career and efforts of former Member C. Clifton Young,
Currently serving on the Nevada Supreme Court, Justice Young will be
retiring from the Court at the end of this year when his term expires,
thus completing a career which was comprised of decades of selfless
public service.
Justice C. Clifton Young prepared for his illustrious career growing
up in Lovelock, Nevada, selling newspapers and Grit magazine, shining
shoes, painting houses, and satisfying the community thirst in the hot
Nevada plains as the local soda jerk. Even with all of these
commitments Young graduated Valedictorian of his High School class.
At the University of Nevada in Reno, Young remained active, becoming
President of the Lamda Chi Fraternity, cadet commander of the campus
ROTC, and was perhaps the only student with membership in both the
University Singers and the college wrestling team.
Young went on to join the army after college, and spent the next
three and a half years in the Infantry of the 103rd Division. After
serving tours of duty in France, Germany, and Austria, he was honorably
discharged as a Major at the age of 23.
After the war, Young went on to graduate from Harvard Law School.
From there Young set in for the beginnings of what would become over a
half century of public service. From a country public administrator,
Young went on to become Nevada's then lone Representative in Congress,
and over his two terms never missed a vote. In 1966 he was elected to
the Nevada State Senate, where he served for 14 years.
He was then elected in 1984 to the Nevada Supreme Court, where he
will have served for 18 years upon his retirement. While engaged in all
of these life activities, Young also found time to be active in the Boy
Scouts, YMCA, and serve as President of the National Wildlife
Federation.
C. Clifton Young has given much to his community, and I support this
resolution recognizing his public service. And let me just state that
Justice Young deserves something back from the District of Columbia.
You see, when he first came here with his wife back in 1952, full of
the excitement of representing the people of Nevada, he was greeted by
the District not with parades or fanfare, but instead by having his car
stolen. We cannot replace his car, but we can support this resolution,
which I urge all Members to do.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 417, which
honors the life and work of Nevada Justice C. Clifton Young, and I urge
my colleagues to vote for this resolution.
This bill was marked up by the Committee on the Judiciary in June of
this year. No objections have been registered about this bill either
before, during or after the Committee on the Judiciary considered the
resolutions. In fact, H. Res. 417 has garnered universal support. While
I do not know Justice Young personally, I was told in the committee's
consideration of this bill, and it became apparent he is quite a
remarkable man.
Justice Young has led a life of public service. He served his country
as an officer in the 103rd Infantry Division in France, Germany and
Austria in World War II. He has served on the Nevada Supreme Court
since 1984. He also served as president of the National Wildlife
Foundation.
Sadly, Justice Young is retiring from the Nevada Supreme Court. It is
only right at this time Congress pause to honor Justice Young and
reflect on his public service. Once again, I urge all my colleagues to
support H. Res. 417.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the chairman of the
Committee on the Judiciary, for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor today to be on the floor to speak
in favor of H. Res. 417, a resolution I introduced to recognize the
distinguished career and extraordinary life of Justice C. Clifton
Young. Justice Cliff Young will be retiring this year after serving 18
years on the Nevada Supreme Court. However, this achievement is only
one in a long list of accomplishments which span Justice Young's
lifetime.
As a young boy in the rural, agricultural community of Lovelock,
Nevada, Cliff Young was the son of pioneers and soon learned at an
early age the value of hard work. As a youth he had a series of odd
jobs from shining shoes to painting houses to installing sidewalks.
His work ethic earned him the honor of being named valedictorian of
his high school class and then earning the highest scholastic
achievement at graduation from the University of Nevada at Reno. He
would eventually continue his studies at Harvard Law School thanks to
the G.I. Bill, but before he embarked on a career in law and public
service, Justice Young served his Nation as an officer in the 103rd
Infantry Division during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a
major at the sage age of 23.
After his military service and finishing law school, Cliff Young was
elected to his first public office, the Washoe County public
administrator. Two years later he would be elected the Representative
of Nevada in this Chamber, the House of Representatives, where he
served two terms, never missing a single vote. His time in Washington
proved to be quite eventful and not solely due to legislation which
came before Congress. Upon his arrival to the Nation's Capital with his
wife, their car was stolen. Then while serving in Congress, shots were
fired into the Chamber wounding the Member sitting next to him.
Yes, Justice Young's service in Congress was certainly eventful.
After serving two terms, Cliff Young would return home to the State of
Nevada. He would then serve 14 years in the Nevada State senate and be
elected to the Nevada Supreme Court in 1984. At the end of this term,
Justice Young will have completed 50 years of public service to his
State and to the Nation. All the while he remained active in his local
community as a member of various organizations including serving as
President of the YMCA, State chairman of the Nevada Cancer Association
Campaign, and chairman of the Washoe County Parks and Recreation Board.
Justice Young not only devoted his life to public service but also to
our legal system as a leader for meaningful judicial reform. His years
of commitment to fairness and equality set him apart and earned him the
respect of his colleagues and fellow Nevadans.
Justice Young stands as a role model to all Americans. This
resolution celebrates Justice Young's life, his work and, yes, his
dedication. May this recognition inspire others to follow in his
footsteps and embark on similar courses of distinguished service.
Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 417.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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