[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF JUDGE FRANCIS E. SWEENEY, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
Judge Francis E. Sweeney, a former Justice on the Supreme Court of 
Ohio, who passed away on April 10, 2011.
  Born on January 24, 1934, Judge Sweeney was raised in Northeast Ohio. 
He graduated from St. Ignatius High School before attending Xavier 
University. He received the Legion of Honor Award from his alma mater 
upon graduating in 1956. After completing his undergraduate education, 
Judge Sweeney spent several years playing professional football in 
Canada with the Ottawa Rough Riders. In 1957, Judge Sweeney joined the 
U.S. Army and served his country bravely during the Korean War.
  Judge Sweeney returned to Cleveland in 1958 and began working in 
Allstate Insurance Company's legal department. While working at 
Allstate, he attended Cleveland-Marshall Law School and earned his 
juris doctor degree in 1963. He left Allstate and started working as an 
assistant prosecuting attorney for Cuyahoga County.
  In 1970, Judge Sweeney began his career as a judge for the Cuyahoga 
County Court of Common Pleas. In 1988, he began sitting as a judge for 
Ohio's Court of Appeals of the Eighth Appellate District, the busiest 
and largest appellate court in the state of Ohio. In 1992, Judge 
Sweeney became a Justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio and would serve 
two terms until his retirement in 2004. After retiring, Judge Sweeney 
continued serving as a retired assigned judge in Cuyahoga County Common 
Pleas Court.
  Judge Sweeney was a highly accomplished lawyer and judge. He was the 
recipient of the Outstanding Judicial Service Award by the Ohio Supreme 
Court for fourteen consecutive years. He was named Xavier University's 
Alumnus of the Year in 1977, received the Cardinal Bellarmine Award for 
Legal Excellence 1994 from St. Ignatius High School, and was presented 
with the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2000 by Cleveland-Marshall 
College of Law.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance 
of Judge Francis E. Sweeney, Sr. I offer my sincere condolences to his 
wife, children and grandchildren.

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