[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 36 (Thursday, March 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE W. DALE YOUNG

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2011

  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to honor a legal 
legend from my District on the occasion of his retirement.
  Circuit Court Judge W. Dale Young has served the citizens of Blount 
County, Tennessee, admirably and with humor and humility for 26 years.
  I served as a state trial judge in nearby Knoxville for 7 years 
before I was elected to Congress, and I was in private law practice 8 
years before that. I do not know another person whose integrity honors 
the legal profession more than Judge Young.
  At a recent reception in his honor, hundreds of people lined up to 
thank Judge Young for his service.
  The Daily Times Newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee, reported, ``Kind, 
fair, and the ultimate gentleman--that's how friends and admirers 
described Blount County Circuit Judge W. Dale Young . . .''
  Judge Young has a long history of protecting and strengthening 
families, and his favorite part of the job was the many adoptions he 
helped finalize. He would often pose for photos with the families and 
showed great compassion during the process.
  Judge William Brewer said, ``He is a wonderful fellow. He's a 
gentleman.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and other readers of the Record to 
join me in recognizing Judge W. Dale Young's 26-year service to Blount 
County, Tennessee.
  On the occasion of his retirement, I submit the Daily Times article 
offering tribute to Judge Young's service.

                         [From the Daily Times]

          Hundreds Attend Retirement Reception for Judge Young

                          (By Chloe Morrison)

       Kind, fair and the ultimate gentleman, that's how friends 
     and admirers described Blount County Circuit Judge W. Dale 
     Young Friday at his retirement reception.
       ``He has just been so good to so many people and I just 
     feel like we should turn out and let him know how much we 
     appreciate him,'' Louisville resident Sandra Stricklin said 
     at the reception, which was on the third floor of the Justice 
     Center.
       Over a period of two hours, hundreds flowed through the 
     reception, many stopping to shake the judge's hand, give him 
     a gift or thank him for his service.
       ``He is a man of high integrity and character,'' Maryville 
     Police Chief Tony Crisp said after the reception. ``He has 
     done a wonderful job for Blount County.''
       Young is retiring after 26 years at the bench. He is 72.
       During decades of service Young has touched many area 
     residents, such as Mike Everett, who came to Friday's 
     ceremony to honor the judge.
       Everett's granddaughter, Allie, 20 months, was the last 
     adoption that Young finalized. Allie's parents--Morgan and 
     Glenda Everett--couldn't attend the ceremony, but Everett 
     said it was important for him to come and bring his 
     grandchild.
       ``I was involved every step of the way,'' Everett said 
     about the adoption process. ``She's the only grandchild I 
     have and will probably ever have, so I've been in the middle 
     of it.''
       Everett also said that he heard that adoptions were Young's 
     favorite part of the job, and he said the judge showed care 
     and compassion for his family.
       ``He was so kind to us that day,'' Everett said of the day 
     Young finalized Allie's adoption. ``He made pictures and sent 
     us copies.''
       Judge William Brewer summed up his thoughts about Young, 
     keeping his words simple.
       ``He is a wonderful fellow,'' he said. ``He's a 
     gentleman.''
       At the retirement reception, Rick McNear, with the Blount 
     County Sheriff's Office, also had praise for the retiring 
     judge.
       ``He's a gentle, compassionate caring man,'' he said. 
     ``(He's) a loving man.''
       Former Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham said at the 
     reception that he's known Young since high school.
       He called the judge brilliant, compassionate--a gentleman.
       ``He brings dignity and fairness and equity to the bench,'' 
     Cunningham said. ``Anything he's every done, he's done it 
     well.''
       Cunningham also said that Young has a good sense of humor 
     and that the pair have had many fun times 
     together.``Sometimes in court, things happen that you just 
     have to stop and laugh,'' he said. ``Then sometimes things 
     happen that are funny but you are not supposed to laugh and 
     he would always manage to drop his pencil and duck down 
     behind the bench (to laugh). We've always teased him about 
     that.''

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