[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING WILLIAM J. SYRING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2009

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to William J. 
Syring of Toledo, Ohio who practiced law in Toledo for a half-century, 
eventually running for City Council and the Ohio Court of Appeals. Mr. 
Syring had a general law practice, handling small business, probate, 
real estate, and personal injury cases. His son, Paul, first practiced 
law with his father, and state it left ``an indelible mark on my 
career. It was a wonderful experience. He was calm, a constant student 
of the law'', as he reported to the Toledo Blade. William retired about 
10 years ago from his practice, which he began in 1948 after serving 
two years as counsel for the Federal Power Commission in Washington. 
``He was always a great one for wanting to help others, especially 
those who couldn't afford it or didn't know the right channels to go 
through,'' his wife Pat observed.
  Mr. Syring believed that to build a case, a lawyer must get out and 
talk to people and investigate, much as a detective would do. ``He 
taught me you don't practice law sitting behind your desk and answering 
the phone,'' said his son, a senior attorney with the City of Toledo 
Law Department, where he has been since 1999. ``I learned more from him 
probably than I did in law school. ``He was a representative of the 
golden age of the practice of law in Toledo. He showed me it's 
priceless to prepare, and he was always prepared.''
  Mr. Syring ran in 1982 for the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals, 
and he campaigned at diners and fairs through the eight counties of the 
district. ``He was a great communicator, a great trial lawyer, [and] 
thrived in the courtroom,'' his son said. Mr. Syring was defeated by 
Judge Peter Handwork, who remains on the bench.
  Early in his career, he ran unsuccessfully for City Council twice, in 
1953 and 1956. He was long active in civic causes. Mr. Syring was a 
member of the Board of Community Relations in the 1950s and he was a 
trustee of the Model Cities Agency in the 1960s. He was a member of the 
Interfaith Conference on Religion and Race and of the NAACP.
  He was a past president of the Toledo Trial Lawyers Association and 
was a member of the Toledo Legal Aid Society. He formerly was on the 
executive committee of the Lucas County Democratic Party. Mr. Syring 
was on the Ohio Board of Bar Examiners for two terms. He was also a 
member of Gesu Church.
  Mr. Syring was a graduate of St. John's High School when it was in 
North Toledo. He received bachelor's and law degrees from the 
University of Notre Dame. He later received a master of laws degree 
from Catholic University of America in Washington and attended 
University of Toledo and Ohio State University law schools. An Army 
veteran of World War II, he was an agent in the Counter Intelligence 
Corps in Europe.
  Surviving are his wife, Patricia Syring, whom he married Oct. 6, 
1956; daughters, Julia Syring and Mary Drumm; sons, Patrick, Joseph, 
John, and Paul Syring, and seven grandchildren.
  It is with the deepest appreciation that I pay tribute, on behalf of 
our entire community, to the long life of a good, patient, kind and 
dedicated barrister, William J. Syring who passed from this life on 
July 4, 2008. He lived his years in service to his family, friends, 
Toledo community and the cause of justice. I valued him for decades as 
a friend and advisor. May God welcome William home and bring peace to 
his dear wife and family.

                          ____________________