[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 13 (Tuesday, February 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JAMES E. PFEIFFER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2006

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James E. Pfeiffer of 
Sausalito, California, who died January 14, 2006, while hiking on the 
Marin County trails that he loved. Jim will be remembered for his 
contributions to his community and the youth of California as well as 
for the leadership he provided to the Foundation of the State Bar of 
California.
  Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1945, Jim earned a B.A. from Wesleyan 
College in Iowa and an M.A. from George Washington University in 
Washington, DC. He worked for the YMCA in New York and Connecticut 
before relocating to California in 1976 as Program Director of the 
Sonoma County YMCA.
  Jim also served stints at the YMCA in Los Gatos, the Diocese of San 
Jose, the Japanese American Community Center, and the Charles Armstrong 
School, before becoming the first Director of the Foundation of the 
State Bar of California upon its establishment in 1990. He later became 
its first employee as well as continuing to manage a volunteer board of 
directors.
  Founded to fund law-related education and public service and to 
provide scholarships to law students, the organization under Jim's 
leadership raised corporate sponsorships of several hundred thousand 
dollars per year. Due to his guidance, it now supports the development 
and promotion of peer courts for first-time youthful offenders who 
commit a misdemeanor; awards 40 grants annually to causes such as 
``Kids in the Law'' and ``When You're Over 18'' publications; and 
offers scholarships and internships to applicants from all over the 
State.
  Jim also spearheaded the creation of the Legal Heritage Institute 
which sends a high school student to Sacramento for a week to 
experience the courts and legal issues in the Capitol and for several 
years served as executive director of the California Supreme Court 
Historical Society where he focused on the recovery and promotion of 
the State's judicial history. He retired from the foundation in 2003 
due to advancing Parkinson's disease.
  Jim's community service includes volunteering as lay eucharistic 
minister for the San Quentin Prison Ministry, developing and guiding 
historical walking tours of San Rafael for the Marin Historical 
Society, and working with youth as recreation director for St. Andrew 
Church in Marin City's Vacation Bible School. He also walked precincts 
for political candidates Faye d'Opal, Sharon Jackson, and John Kerry. 
And Jim was a great supporter of mine.
  Mr. Speaker, James Pfeiffer will be sorely missed by his many friends 
and colleagues and especially by his devoted wife, Bonnie Hough. His 
courage, spirit, and warmth were an inspiration to all of us who knew 
him and are a continual reminder not only of what we have lost, but 
also of what we can achieve.

                          ____________________