[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 51 (Thursday, March 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE HONORABLE JOHN GILCREST O'ROURKE

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2017

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
accomplishments of the Honorable John Gilcrest O'Rourke, a former judge 
and active member of the community in Hanford, California, who sadly 
passed away on March 9, 2017 at the age of 82.
  Mr. O'Rourke was born January 11, 1935 in Hanford, California. After 
graduating from Lemoore High School, he went on to attend the 
University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. While a student at 
Notre Dame, Mr. O'Rourke met his wife, Joan, and the couple married 
January 3, 1959. The couple had five children, Peggy, John, Katie, 
Ellen, and Thomas.
  In 1956, after graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Mr. 
O'Rourke was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. While in the U.S. 
Navy, he served as a Fuel Quality Control Officer in Guam, sailed on a 
destroyer in the Pacific during Eniwetok atomic testing, and conducted 
patrol operations in the Strait of Formosa in Taiwan. After twenty-
seven dedicated years of service, Mr. O'Rourke retired from the U.S. 
Navy as Captain, U.S. Navy Reserves.
  John's successful legal career began at the University of California 
Hastings College of Law, San Francisco in 1960. He was admitted to the 
State Bar of California in 1965 and began his law practice as an 
attorney with Clawson and Jennings in Hanford and Lemoore. He was 
appointed and elected District Attorney, County of Kings in 1966, and 
served until 1979. Mr. O'Rourke left his judgeship to serve in private 
practice until 1985, when he was later sworn in as a Judge of the 
Municipal Court for the County of Kings. He was later sworn in as a 
judge in the Superior Court in 2001 for the county and state. While 
serving as a Judge, Mr. O'Rourke was known for his strong belief in the 
law, the Constitution and personal responsibility. In 2003, he retired 
the only way he knew how, and immediately began participating in the 
California Retired Judge Program, having last sat on the bench in 
December of 2016.
  John was truly a staple of the community and was known for his 
visibility and activity in Hanford. He felt his status as a judge gave 
him a greater obligation to give back to his community, and he was 
often seen scrubbing pots, making pancakes, and cleaning up at events 
and fundraisers. John held leadership positions across the community, 
where he was a Minister and lector for St. Brigid's Parish, a Grand 
Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a Rotarian, school parent volunteer 
for McCarthy School, Hanford High volunteer, and a member of the YMCA 
Board, among many others. Despite his many great achievements and long 
list of volunteer work, above all Mr. O'Rourke was known for being 
humble.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in honoring the life and achievements of Mr. 
John Gilcrest O'Rourke. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and 
friends during this difficult time.

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