[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE HONORABLE FRANK C. DAMRELL, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 30, 2011

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Judge Frank C. 
Damrell, Jr., as he retires from the United States District Court, 
Eastern District of California. A federal judge since 1997, Judge 
Damrell has served on the bench with distinction and integrity. As his 
family, colleagues, and community leaders all gather to honor his 
remarkable career, I ask my colleagues to join me in tribute to Judge 
Damrell's service to the federal judiciary and his unwavering 
commitment to increasing civic involvement amongst our nation's youth.
  A native of California's Central Valley and graduate of the 
University of California, Berkeley, and Yale Law School, Judge Damrell 
enjoyed an exceptional law career in both the private and public 
sectors prior to his 1997 appointment to the federal bench by President 
William Jefferson Clinton. He has been an active member of the federal 
judiciary and served on the 9th Circuit Education Committee, the 
Federal Judicial Branch Committee of the United States Judicial 
Conference, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and a 
number of other important committees and commissions.
  Since being appointed to the United States District Court of the 
Eastern District of California, Judge Damrell has remained steadfast in 
his advocacy for civic education. In May of 2002, he led a national 
summit in our nation's capital that brought together all major civic 
education organizations, to restore civic engagement in public schools. 
These organizations led a nation-wide effort to encourage public 
schools to educate students about each of our civic duties, 
responsibilities, and privileges. To help advance this crucial mission, 
Judge Damrell founded Operation Protect and Defend, a program that has 
connected high school students to the Constitution and helped them 
explore the responsibilities of citizenship.
  Beyond encouraging students to learn about their civic 
responsibilities, Judge Damrell has been a strong proponent of higher 
education and served on the boards of various universities. He was a 
member of the Board of Regents of Santa Clara University, Board of 
Overseers for University of San Francisco, and the Board of Trustees 
for University of California, Merced. Judge Damrell has spoken in front 
of a wide variety of organizations to promote civic education and given 
insightful commencement addresses at the Santa Clara University School 
of Law and McGeorge School of Law.
  Mr. Speaker, as Judge Damrell, his wife Ludy, their children Frank, 
Lia, Anne, and James, their grandchildren, friends, and colleagues 
celebrate his retirement, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking 
and recognizing him for his many years of service. Judge Damrell has 
contributed immensely to the federal bench and our community.

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