[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 119 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5196-S5197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 249--HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF E. THOM RUMBERGER
Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary:
S. Res. 249
Whereas E. Thom Rumberger served in the United States
Marine Corps;
Whereas Thom Rumberger earned a bachelor's degree, with
honors, and a J.D. from the University of Florida;
Whereas Thom Rumberger is a founding partner of the law
firm Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, which has represented
multinational corporations such as American Airlines, Inc.,
Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Toyota Motor Corporation;
Whereas Thom Rumberger has been listed in Florida Super
Lawyers every year from 2007 to 2010;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was appointed Circuit Judge in the
18th Judicial Circuit of Florida in 1969;
Whereas Thom Rumberger has committed himself to numerous
acts of public service, including serving on the Federal
Judicial Advisory Commission of Florida and the Board of
Supervisors of the Spaceport Florida Authority;
Whereas Thom Rumberger has been one of the most steadfast
champions of the Everglades in Florida;
Whereas Thom Rumberger has served as lead counsel for the
Everglades Foundation since 1999;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was instrumental in the passage of
two amendments to the Florida Constitution and of section 601
of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law
106-541; 114 Stat. 2680), known as the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan;
Whereas Thom Rumberger was instrumental in obtaining
several billion dollars in funding for Everglades
restoration; and
Whereas Thom Rumberger served on the Florida Governor's
2001 Select Task Force on Elections and the 2002 Select Task
Force on Election Procedures, Standards and Technology, and
was Chairman of the Legislature's Study Committee on Public
Records in 2002: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes and honors the professional success of E.
Thom Rumberger; and
(2) recognizes and honors the lifelong dedication of Thom
Rumberger to the protection of the Florida Everglades.
Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the
important contributions of a very special Floridian for his unrelenting
determination to protect one of our nation's most unique natural
resources--America's Everglades. A prestigious attorney and commanding
litigator, Thom Rumberger has dedicated much of his personal and
professional life to advancing the restoration and protection of the
River of Grass. His brilliance, creativity and fearlessness combined to
make Thom one of Florida's most influential Everglades leaders.
A man proud to serve his country and his community, Thom interrupted
his college career to volunteer for the Marine Corps and serve in the
Korean War. Over the course of his life he has continued his service as
a dedicated public servant, a respected judge and prosecutor. Thom is a
dedicated father and grandfather who has always found great happiness
and comfort in his ever-expanding family. The relentless efforts Thom
undertakes to preserve Florida's natural heritage will be a legacy gift
to his family, his colleagues, and to the American public.
After serving two years in the United States Marine Corps, Thom
earned his bachelor's degree, with honors, and his law degree from the
University of Florida, where he was Associate Editor of the University
of Florida Law Review in 1960. Before becoming Florida's youngest
Circuit Court Judge in 1969, serving in the Eighteenth Judicial
Circuit, he was the Brevard County Solicitor and Special Assistant
State Attorney in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. From 1971 through
1974 he was the County Attorney for Seminole County, Assistant to
Florida's Governor Claude Kirk, and served as a member of the Florida
Land Sales Board.
Thom has been a long-time friend of George and Mary Barley, both of
whom dedicated their lives to restoration of the Everglades. George and
Mary established the Everglades Trust and the Everglades Foundation.
Upon George's untimely death in 1995, Thom joined with Mary to make
sure George's dream of a restored Everglades became a reality. An
active leader in the Republican Party, Thom was able to elevate
Everglades restoration to a bi-partisan issue at both the state and
federal level.
Thom's success extends to his career in private practice, as he is
one of the founding partners of the Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell law
firm. Under his leadership, his firm's modest beginnings were quickly
surpassed as it moved to the forefront of business litigation,
representing such multi-national corporations as American Airlines,
Sears, Roebuck and Co., General Motors Corporation, Honda Motor
Company, Ford Motor Company, and Toyota Motor Corporation. Today, his
firm includes 75 trial attorneys in five offices across Florida and
Alabama. Thom has been listed in Florida Super Lawyers every year from
2007 to 2010.
Legend has it that Thom once convinced a Federal judge to allow a
real automobile in the courtroom as evidence. Yes, Thom convinced the
judge to have a window enlarged in a historic courthouse to accommodate
a crane that lifted the car right into the courtroom.
Thom has been known throughout his life for his infectious sense of
humor as well as the breath of his various careers. Often referred to
as a ``career chameleon'', Thom worked his way through college as a
snake handler at the Ross Allen Reptile Institute at Florida's Silver
Springs performing shows with lethal snakes to the thousands of
visitors who came to watch the dangerous performance. Thom promises
that it was there that he learned the skills of public speaking and
working with the public which would become such a critical component of
his future success. Thom also enjoyed a brief acting career as the
stunt man for the Creature of the Black Lagoon before beginning his
legal career.
In addition to building an impressive legal career, Thom has
generously committed himself to public service. He was appointed to
Florida's Federal Judicial Advisory Commission and the Board of
Supervisors of the Spaceport Florida Authority. Currently, Thom is
Chairman of The Everglades Trust, and has served as Chairman of the
Collins Center for Public Policy, and as a member of the Board of
Visitors of Florida State College of Law and Board of Trustees for the
Law Center Association of the University of Florida.
He has represented environmental organizations including Save the
Manatee, The Everglades Trust, and Save Our Everglades. Thom has also
served as lead counsel for The Everglades Foundation since 1999.
Notably, Thom was instrumental in the passage of two Everglades
related Florida constitutional amendments, the Federal Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan, and in obtaining several billion dollars
in funding for Everglades restoration. Thom also was primarily
responsible for Florida's acquisition of the 75,000-acre Babcock Ranch
which provides new and necessary corridors for the endangered Florida
panther. And, in the late 1980's, Thom worked to implement some of the
first manatee protection laws.
Throughout his four decades in public service, Thom Rumberger has
demonstrated the importance of looking out for the common good. Thanks
to the selfless commitment of folks like Thom, America's Everglades
will be restored for the benefit of future generations. America owes
Thom a great debt of gratitude.
Grace joins me in thanking Thom and his lovely wife, Debbie, for
their
[[Page S5197]]
contributions to Florida's treasured landscapes.
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