[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TOM KONGSGAARD POST OFFICE BUILDING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2010

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 6237, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1351 2nd Street in Napa, California, as the ``Tom 
Kongsgaard Post Office Building''.
  Tom Kongsgaard was a Napa County Superior Court Judge from 1958 to 
1984. As a judge, he missed only one day of work throughout his entire 
career. He served two terms on the California Judicial Council, was a 
member and chairman of the Judicial Performance Commission, and was a 
member of the Board of Directors of the California Judges' Association.
  Tom attended Georgetown University before enlisting in the Navy 
during World War II. He was a Naval officer in the Pacific Theater, and 
was stationed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo by the end of 
the conflict. He returned to school and studied at U.C. Berkeley, then 
received a law degree from Stanford. Tom had a passion for public 
service and justice.
  He is survived by his two daughters, Mary Williams and Martha 
Goldman; his son, John; seven grandchildren and one great-
granddaughter.
  A retired Napa district judge said of Tom, ``He was a prince of a man 
and a towering leader in this community, both on the bench and off. He 
was a role model for all.''
  I am honored to bring this bill to the floor and hope that Tom 
Kongsgaard's legacy will live on, encouraging others to serve their 
community to the best of their ability.

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