[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 3, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H7800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ED EDMONDSON UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1668) to designate the United States courthouse located at 
101 North Fifth Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as the ``Ed Edmondson 
United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1668

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse located at 101 North Fifth 
     Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma, shall be known and designated 
     as the ``Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Carson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1668, introduced by the gentleman from Oklahoma 
(Mr. Carson), designates the building located at 101 North Fifth Street 
in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as the Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse.
  Ed Edmondson was a life-long resident of Oklahoma. He attended the 
public schools of Muskogee, Muskogee Junior College, and the University 
of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1940. Following graduation, 
Congressman Edmondson joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation after 
3 years with the FBI. He served in the Navy for 3 years and then 24 
years in the Naval Reserve. During his service, Congressman Edmondson 
attended law school at Georgetown University. Upon his discharge from 
active duty and graduation from law school, Congressman Edmondson was 
admitted to the Washington, D.C. Bar Association. He then returned to 
Oklahoma to work in private practice and then as county attorney of 
Muskogee County.
  In 1952, Congressman Edmondson was elected to the 83rd Congress and 
was reelected nine times, representing his home State for 20 years. 
After his service in the House, Congressman Edmondson returned to his 
native State and lived out his life in Muskogee where he passed away in 
1990.
  This is a fitting tribute to a dedicated public servant. I urge my 
colleagues in supporting passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored and pleased to support H.R. 1668, a bill I 
introduced to designate the courthouse in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as the Ed 
Edmondson United States Courthouse. Congressman Edmondson devoted his 
life to the service of the country and people of Oklahoma. It was a 
call to service that many members of his family, past and present, have 
answered.
  Congressman Edmond A. Edmondson was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on 
April 7, 1919. And after graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 
1940, he came to Washington, D.C. to study law at Georgetown 
University. While working on his studies, he became a tour guide at the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation and was quickly elevated to clerk and 
then special agent. His studies and service to the FBI were interrupted 
by a call to higher duty in the Navy during World War II where he 
served for 25 months in the South Pacific. During the war he met and 
married his lovely wife, June, who was serving as a WAVE in the war 
effort.
  After the war, Congressman Edmondson's military service continued 
until 1970 in the United States Naval Reserve. After returning from the 
war and completing his education, Congressman Edmondson returned to 
Oklahoma to serve as county attorney in 1949, until he was elected to 
represent the people of the Second Congressional District of Oklahoma 
in 1952. During his time in Congress, he served on the Committee on 
Public Works and the Committee for Interior and Insular Affairs, until 
he left the House to run for the United Nations Senate in 1972.
  As a member of the Committee on Public Works, he championed water 
projects, especially for arid Western lands. Congressman Edmondson was 
a supporter of programs of the new frontier and also a champion of 
veterans like himself. His political style helped lay the foundation 
for Oklahoma's conservative Democratic traditions.
  He had a tremendous respect for public service and came from a 
politically active family. His brother, J. Howard Edmondson, served as 
the Governor of Oklahoma, and his work inspired many people, including 
two of his own sons, to make careers in the public sector and to work 
for the people of Oklahoma. His son, Drew Edmondson, is today the 
attorney general of Oklahoma; and his other son, Jim, is a State 
district judge in Muskogee County.
  The naming of this Federal building in the honor of Ed Edmondson 
would commemorate his long-time service to his community and to his 
State. I ask Members' support for this legislation. I thank Members for 
the opportunity to commemorate this great Oklahoman with this honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I congratulate the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Carson) for 
shepherding this bill to the floor and its expected passage today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schrock). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1668.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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