[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E139-E140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING BARBARA E. HERRING

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARCY KAPTUR--

                                of ohio-

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2009

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing from 
this life of Barbara E. Herring, who served as the first female law 
director for the city of Toledo. Mayor Carleton Finkbeiner appointed 
Mrs. Herring law director in August 1999, after 4 months as acting law 
director. She retired as law director in December 2005, as the 
administration of Mayor Jack Ford was drawing to a close. As Mayor 
Finkbeiner said to the Blade, ``If you're going to be a first-rate city 
in this country, you have to have leaders that come from every sector 
of the community.'' Mr. Finkbeiner said at her appointment, ``Barb is 
going to be a very strong law director and a strong component to the 
leadership of the city.''
  Most of her tenure was in the succeeding administration, and ``I was 
honored to serve with her,'' Mayor Ford said to the Blade. ``She was 
the best director I had. [She] helped draft the ethics statement we all 
lived under during the 4 years I was mayor. She helped set the tone.''
  One issue in which she played a big part was the city's smoking ban, 
which preceded the statewide ban by several years. On other issues as 
well, ``in those days, Toledo was setting the tone for the State as far 
as home-rule rights,'' Mayor Ford said. ``She wrestled through a big 
case in the [Ohio] Court of Appeals with respect to [off-campus] 
student housing. I had full confidence in her. She was ethically 
driven. Early on, we had an understanding that we would do things by 
the book and do it right and not try to be politically cute.''
  While she was honored to be chosen as the first woman to serve as law 
director, her husband, David, said, ``she was more concerned about 
being considered the best law director. She built that department up 
and was so aggressively fighting for them and trying to do things to 
get new talent in there,'' he said to the Blade. She had a calming 
effect, even in demanding circumstances, said Kelly Bejaige, who was 
her secretary. ``She was very dignified and caring, and that carried 
her through,'' Ms. Bejaige said. ``She had great respect from many 
people. She saw the best in everybody, and she tried to bring that out 
in people. She was no nonsense. She expected a lot, but nothing less 
than she was willing to give herself.''
  Mrs. Herring was a partner in the law firm of Cooper, Straub, 
Walinski & Cramer in 1991 when then-law director for the city of Toledo 
Keith Wilkowski hired her as a staff attorney. She later became the 
city's general counsel. She joined the law firm after graduating cum 
laude in 1984 from the University of Toledo law school.
  Mrs. Herring taught English and psychology about 8 years at 
Springfield High School near Toledo, Ohio. Before that, she taught 
about 6 years at Springfield Junior High. ``She was

[[Page E140]]

really the consummate teacher, and education lost what a real teacher 
should do,'' her husband said. ``She cared not just for the mental and 
scholastic side of the students, but she cared about their personal 
welfare.''
  Born in Denver, Colorado, Mrs. Herring was a teenager when she moved 
with her family to Sylvania Township, near Toledo, Ohio. She was a 1963 
graduate of Sylvania High School and received a bachelor's degree from 
Ohio State University. She was a trustee of the Toledo Legal Aid 
Society and was a former president of Ohio Municipal Attorneys. In 
retirement, she was on the board of St. Paul's Community Center. She 
took part in the Lucas County Juvenile Court's Court Appointed Special 
Advocate program. She was a lector at Blessed Sacrament Church. 
Surviving are her husband, David, whom she married May 21, 1966; sons, 
David and Nathan; brother, John White; sister, Carole Gildemeister, and 
five grandchildren.
  It is with the deepest admiration that I pay tribute to the exemplary 
life of a pioneering woman. She dedicated her life in service to her 
family, friends, her students and the city of Toledo. May her family be 
comforted by the memories they hold and may Barbara Herring be blessed 
with a loving peace.

                          ____________________