[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF JUDGE GUY H. McMICHAEL III 
      UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 2003

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the House 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I rise today to pay tribute to Judge 
Guy H. McMichael III, who is retiring after a lifetime of public 
service, including more than 25 years at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. Judge McMichael's career includes stints in the Army, as a 
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, on the Senate Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, and at the VA under five Administrators, four Secretaries and 
five different Presidents.
  Judge McMichael graduated from Harvard University and received a law 
degree from the University of Michigan. He served in the Army for two 
years and later was in private practice for four years, while also 
serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the State of Indiana. In 
1971, he became General Counsel for the Senate Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, where he remained for six years until joining the VA following 
the election of President Carter.
  When Judge McMichael first came to the VA with Administrator Max 
Cleland in 1977, he brought a healthy distrust of what people said and 
what they did. His discernment and skepticism was resented by some, but 
over the years, his ability to persuade others of the importance of 
being honest brought integrity to almost all parts of the VA that he 
touched. That a man who was the Administrator's right hand during the 
Carter years would stay on and perform such exemplary service for an 
additional 23 years is quite remarkable.
  In 1981, Administrator Robert P. Nimmo appointed Guy McMichael to the 
VA Board of Appeals as an Administrative Judge. He was appointed 
Chairman and Chief Administrative Judge in l990, and has remained in 
that position until his retirement this year. Over the past several 
years, Judge McMichael has also filled several important positions on a 
temporary basis, including Acting Chief of Staff, Chief Information 
Officer, and Acting Under Secretary for Benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, Judge McMichael's legacy is that of a man who served his 
nation with compassion and distinction, and advanced the interests of 
veterans. Truly, he saw his work for veterans as a mission, one that he 
could devote the full talents God blessed him with. Veterans are better 
off because he served them as long as he did.

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