[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1323-E1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF JUDGE IRVIN DOUGLAS SUGG, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THOMAS S.P. PERRIELLO

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2010

  Mr. PERRIELLO. Madam Speaker, I would like to take the time to 
recognize the passing of Judge Irvin Douglas Sugg, Sr. Judge Sugg was a 
great man in his community, however, he is most known for being the 
first African-American judge to preside in Halifax County, Virginia.
  Born in 1916, Judge Sugg attended elementary and high school in South 
Boston, Virginia. He graduated high school from Mary Potter Memorial 
School, a boarding school in Oxford, NC. After graduation, Judge Sugg 
matriculated at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, where 
he majored in history until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1940. 
His tour of duty lasted until November 1944.
  While in the Army, Judge Sugg was stationed at Fort Belvoir, 
Virginia, and later at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here in 
Washington, DC. By the end of World War II, he reached the rank of 
Technical Sergeant, only one promotion from Master Sergeant. He was 
honorably discharged in November 1945 and had earned the American 
Defense Campaign Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal.
  Judge Sugg and his family moved back to South Boston where he worked 
at the Piedmont Grocery Company--his father's store. He was also a 
professional photographer and real estate investor. Judge Sugg went 
back to school and earned his B.S. degree in history from Virginia 
Union University. He also earned his law degree from North Carolina 
College School of Law--now North Carolina Central University Law 
School--in Durham, NC, where he graduated cum laude. In 1953, he opened 
his own law practice in South Boston where he practiced law for 32 
years and was the first black lawyer to practice law continuously in 
Halifax County.
  In 1975, Mr. Sugg was appointed by the city of South Boston as 
Substitute City Court Judge. Three years later, he was appointed 
Substitute General District Judge for the 10th Judiciary District. In 
1985, Judge Sugg was elected by the General Assembly to serve as a 
judge in the General District Court for the 10th Judicial Circuit, 
making him the first black judge in the district. In 1991, Judge Sugg 
won a precedent-setting court case against the state of Virginia, 
allowing him to work past the mandatory retirement age and serve 
another six year term. Judge Sugg retired from the bench on February 
28, 1998.
  Judge Sugg has a long list of personal and professional affiliations 
including: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, where he was the longest standing 
member of Zeta chapter's 90-year history; Free and Accepted Mason, 
Prince Hall Affiliation; Halifax County School Board member; South 
Boston Planning Commission member; and member of Mount Olive Baptist 
Church.
  Judge Sugg was married for 68 years to Bernice Humphrey Sugg and was 
the father to five children, grandfather to 14 and great-grandfather to 
15.
  Judge Sugg made great contributions to the South Boston community, 
Virginia and our Nation. He will be greatly missed.
  I would like to send my condolences to Judge Sugg's family and 
friends and to all of the South Boston community.

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