[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 25 (Tuesday, March 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF JULIAN ROTHBAUM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRAD CARSON

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 2004

  Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, in September of 2003 Oklahoma 
lost one of its greatest public servants, Julian Rothbaum. Although Mr. 
Rothbaum was a successful oilman, he was perhaps best known for his 
work in education and politics. A close confidant of Speaker of the 
House Carl Albert, Mr. Rothbaum worked diligently to support and 
advance education and provided advice and counsel to many including 
many of Oklahoma's most influential public servants.
  Born October 3, 1913, in Hartshorne, a small town in Southeastern 
Oklahoma, Mr. Rothbaum spent his life in service to his state and his 
country. After graduating from Hartshorne High School in 1932 as the 
President of his senior class, he went on to the University of 
Oklahoma, where he earned a bachelors degree in 1936, a law degree in 
1938, and where he served as president of the student body. At OU, Mr. 
Rothbaum received his commission in ROTC and served his Country as a 
field artillery officer in World War II. After the war, he returned to 
Oklahoma City where he began working as an attorney. He relocated to 
Tulsa in 1946 when he was named the first Director of the Tulsa 
District of the Federal Housing Administration. Mr. Rothbaum was the 
youngest FHA Director in the United States at the time.
  Following his work With the FHA Mr. Rothbaum owned and operated a 
mortgage banking company, and in 1953 served as president of the 
Oklahoma Mortgage Banking Association. Shortly thereafter Mr. Rothbaum 
joined the Francis Oil and Gas Company and worked his way to chairman 
of the board. However, Mr. Rothbaum was not only successful in the 
business world and consistently devoted a great deal of time and energy 
to the people of Oklahoma through his work in education and politics.
  Widely regarded as one of Oklahoma's most generous philanthropists, 
Mr. Rothbaum had a huge heart and was known to write hundreds of 
personal notes of thanks, congratulations, and encouragement while 
serving on the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. His life-long 
support of and dedication to education was illustrated in many ways, 
including his two terms on the OU Board of Regents, one term on the 
State Board of Regents for Higher Education, and as Special Advisor on 
Higher Education.
  As a tribute to his good friend Carl Albert, Mr. Rothbaum created and 
endowed a scholarship in Albert's name at every school the Speaker 
attended in his life, including McAlester High School, the University 
of Oklahoma, and Oxford University. Mr. Rothbaum also created and 
endowed many other awards as a way of supporting, encouraging, and 
strengthening education, at institutions including OU, Hartshorne High 
School, Carl Albert State College, and Central State University. These 
awards recognize a wide variety of accomplishments in many fields. He 
also initiated the Rothbaum Lecture Series on economics, education, and 
government at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton.
  For all of his hard work and dedication to the people of Oklahoma, 
Mr. Rothbaum was presented for induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame 
by his good friend Speaker Albert in 1986. Mr. Rothbaum also received 
many other awards and accolades throughout his life, and, though he was 
grateful for each, he always preferred to give rather than to receive.
  In addition to his work with education, Mr. Rothbaum also served as 
an ardent supporter and advisor to many in Oklahoma politics, including 
Speaker Albert, former Governors George Nigh, David Boren, and David 
Walters, and many more. His interest in politics was grounded in the 
belief that the government should help people and that in order to make 
a better world, good competent people should be involved in politics. 
He believed in promise and possibility and lived his life as a shining 
example to all those whose lives he touched.
  On a more personal note, Mr. Rothbaum was also a beloved husband, 
father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Preceded in death in 1996 
by Irene, his wife of 47 years, Mr. Rothbaum is survived by a daughter, 
Sue McCoy, of San Jose, California; a son, Joel Jankowsky, of 
Washington, DC; five grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. In 
all aspects of his life Mr. Rothbaum is remembered by everyone who knew 
him as a warm, kind, generous, caring and down-to-earth person who 
genuinely wanted to make this world, his country, and his state a 
better place to live.
  In commemoration of his life, his works and his impact on the people 
of Oklahoma, Governor Brad Henry dedicated September 29, 2003, as 
Julian Rothbaum Day. The State of Oklahoma has had no greater 
benefactor than Julian Rothbaum.
  He believed in the promise of our State and, most of all, in the 
importance of education to improve Oklahoma. He had such love for 
public service and no person had a greater impact behind the scenes on 
Oklahoma politics than did Julian. His life and legacy has and will 
continue to touch people in many ways. The State of Oklahoma is poorer 
for his passing.

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