[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF HONORABLE RICHARD A. BOSWORTH, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Retired 
Senior District Judge Richard A. Bosworth, Sr. who passed away last 
year following a courageous battle with cancer. Judge Bosworth was born 
in Birmingham, Alabama on December 26, 1922. The Great Depression 
prompted his family to move to the South Plains of West Texas, where 
his father worked as a share cropper during the dust bowl years of the 
mid 30s.
  Richard graduated from high school in 1939 and paid his way through 
Texas Tech College by working in the cotton fields during the summer 
months and working part-time jobs during the school year. After 
graduating from Tech in December 1942, he was immediately called to 
active duty as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps. Richard 
obtained his pilot wings and commission as a 2nd Lt., and went on to 
fly 50 combat missions over Europe as a B-24 pilot. Richard's service 
was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 
three Oak Leaf Clusters among other decorations.
  Richard later applied for and received a regular commission in the 
U.S. Air Force where he spent the next 30 years of his life holding 
assignments including Wing Commander of the 97th Bomb Wing (B-52s and 
KC-135 tankers). It was in the service that he met his future wife, 
Carolyn, who was working as a Red Cross nurse in Montgomery, Alabama. 
The two were married in 1959 in Sylacauga, Alabama, and had three sons, 
Rick, Brian, and Greg.
  In 1972 he retired from the Air Force as a Colonel and enrolled in 
law school at Texas Tech University. Upon receiving his JD in 1974, he 
began practicing law in the Greenville area until he was appointed 
Judge of the Hunt County Court at Law in 1983. In 1985, he became judge 
of the newly created 354th District Court which covered Hunt, Rains, 
and, later, Rockwall Counties. Judge Bosworth served in the 354th until 
his retirement in January of 1996, after which he continued his work as 
a visiting judge throughout Northeast Texas. The Judge was an 
inspiration and a great source of encouragement to two of my sons who 
practiced in his court. One, Brett, has been honored to succeed Judge 
Bosworth and is just finishing his second 4 year term. Blakeley is 
practicing and doing well.
  Judge Bosworth dedicated his life to serving his country, first as a 
member of the military community and later as a member of the 
judiciary. His dedication to strengthening this nation spanned more 
than six decades and included service in two branches of government. 
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of 
this wonderful patriot--Judge Richard Bosworth.

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