[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 175 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING FEDERAL JUDGE JOHN HANNAH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to mourn the 
sudden passing of Federal Judge John H. Hannah, Jr., chief judge for 
the U.S. Eastern District of Texas, who died this past Thursday while 
attending a judicial conference in Florida. John was 64.
  Judge Hannah was an esteemed and respected jurist and public servant 
who served the State of Texas and his fellow citizens with distinction 
as an attorney, legislator, State official and finally U.S. Federal 
judge. His untimely death is being mourned by numerous friends and 
supporters and his passing leaves a tremendous void in the U.S. Eastern 
District of Texas.
  President Bill Clinton appointed John to the Federal bench in 1994, 
and he had been chief judge for the Eastern District since 2001. 
Governor Ann Richards named him the Texas Secretary of State in January 
1991 on the day she was inaugurated, and one of his projects was 
working on passage of a new ethics law for State officials.
  John was elected to the Texas Legislature in 1966, representing 
Angelina, Trinity, San Jacinto and Polk counties for three terms. He 
attended South Texas College of Law while serving as a State lawmaker. 
He then served as district attorney for Angelina County from 1973 to 
1975 and served as legal counsel for the public interest group, Common 
Cause. In 1977 President Jimmy Carter appointed him U.S. attorney for 
the Eastern District, a position he held until 1981.
  John also served in the U.S. Navy for 4 years. He grew up in Diboll, 
graduated from Sam Houston State University and was honored as a 
Distinguished Alumnus in 1993.
  Judge Hannah's integrity and commitment to ethics are evident in his 
distinguished record of public service and in his many significant 
accomplishments on behalf of Texans. He was an accomplished jurist and 
statesman whose word was his bond and whose commitment to rendering 
fair decisions was well-known and highly respected. He leaves a 
powerful legacy for those in public service and in the practice of law 
to emulate.
  John's wife, U.S. Magistrate Judith Guthrie of Tyler, is a respected 
jurist in her own right and was with him at the time of his death. Our 
hearts go out to her and to his father, John Hannah Sr.; son, John 
Hannah III; brother, James Hannah; and granddaughter, Rebecca. Their 
loss, though certainly more personal, is shared by all those who knew 
and admired Judge Hannah.
  Mr. Speaker, as the House adjourns for business this year, let us do 
so by recognizing the remarkable contributions of this dedicated public 
servant, outstanding Texan and great American to whom we pay tribute 
and pay our last respects today--Judge John Hannah, Jr. May God bless 
his family in their time of sorrow.

                          ____________________