[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CHARLES D. LEMMOND, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 31, 2012

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart on the 
passing of former Pennsylvania State Senator Charles D. Lemmond, Jr., 
who represented the people of the 20th District in Northeastern 
Pennsylvania for more than two decades.
  A native son of Hazleton, born on the anniversary of Ben Franklin's 
birthday to Charles D. and Ruth Zierdt Lemmond, Charlie grew up in 
Forty Fort, Luzerne County. He graduated as the president of his senior 
class. Charlie served in the United States Army in occupied Italy.
  Using the GI Bill, Charlie majored in Government at Harvard College. 
While there, he excelled as the principal trumpet player in the Harvard 
Band. He graduated from Harvard in 1952, then went to the University of 
Pennsylvania's School of Law. He practiced law for a quarter of a 
century, serving as the solicitor for several Northeastern Pennsylvania 
municipalities and as first assistant district attorney of Luzerne 
County. In 1980, he was appointed as a Judge of the Luzerne County 
Court of Common Pleas by former Governor Dick Thornburgh. Presiding 
over Orphans' Court, Charlie used his knowledge of the law and an even 
hand to affect the lives of those who came before him.
  In 1985, Charlie was elected as the senator representing 
Pennsylvania's 20th District, and he began a quest that would consume 
his 20 plus years in office--improving the quality of state government 
and of the judicial system. As chairman of the State Senate Government 
Committee and as vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Charlie 
focused on election reform, governmental ethics, and the penal system. 
As a member of the Criminal Justice Commission and the Reapportionment 
Task Force of the National Conference of State Legislatures, Charlie 
pursued good government and an improved judicial system. Charlie worked 
to secure the rights of abused children, to modify the workmen's 
compensation laws to make Pennsylvania more business-friendly, and to 
protect the tax-exempt status of charitable organizations. There was 
virtually no area of life that Charlie did not touch, from finance and 
budgets, to military and veterans' affairs, to education.
  From 1985 until 2006, Charlie served the people of the 20th 
District--and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania--with integrity, 
honor, and dignity. Charlie served his constituents equally, without 
regard for their political affiliation. For his first few terms, 
Charlie had no opposition in either the primary or general elections, 
something that speaks to his character and his abilities.
  Charlie was often referred to by his colleagues as ``The Gentleman of 
the Senate.'' Indeed, in early 2000, when Charlie received an honorary 
doctorate degree from Wilkes University, Charlie was described as ``a 
man of unblemished integrity and broad popularity, a political leader 
with virtually no antagonists.''
  But Charlie's selfless service extended far beyond the chambers of 
the Pennsylvania Senate. He served on numerous committees and boards of 
directors for community and charitable organizations. He was a life 
member of Wyoming Seminary's Board of Trustees, and an advisory board 
member of both the Salvation Army and the Penn State University Wilkes-
Barre Campus. He was a lay leader of the First United Methodist Church 
of Wilkes-Barre, and over a period of years served in many leadership 
roles in the Wyoming Conference of the United Methodist Church.
  For more than 30 years, Charlie's family and the Naylor-Murphy family 
hosted a special annual tradition in Northeastern Pennsylvania--the 
Naylor/Lemmond Memorial Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Volunteers--
including members of Charlie's family who had returned home--helped 
serve that free dinner, which brought holiday warmth and cheer to 
thousands of area residents who needed it.
  Family was extremely important to Charlie Lemmond. He met his wife, 
Barbara, shortly after he finished law school. Together, they raised 
four children: Charles, John, Judith, and David. Today, they survive 
him and mourn his passing, as do his brother, George; four 
grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
  Mr. Speaker, Senator Charles Darwin Lemmond, Jr., represented the 
highest standard of public service. He stands as an example of 
professionalism, commitment, dedication, integrity, and honor to other 
elected officials at all levels of government. He leaves behind a proud 
legacy, and his impact on Northeastern Pennsylvania and the entire 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be felt for many years to come.

                          ____________________