[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 26, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO HON. NELSON JAEGER BECKER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD ROKITA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2017

  Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a prominent Hoosier 
leader and my close friend, Mr. Nelson Jaeger Becker, who passed away 
on April 7, 2017 surrounded by his loving family.
  Nelson was born in Logansport, Indiana on September 16, 1940. He 
graduated from Logansport High School, received his Bachelor of 
Business Administration from Tulane University, and his Doctor of 
Jurisprudence from Tulane University Law School. He also graduated from 
the Culver Summer Naval School and served in the United States Air 
Force as a JAG officer where he attained the rank of captain.
  Nelson was passionate about the law, the legislative process, serving 
the community, and politics. He practiced law in Logansport from 1968 
up until his passing. He dutifully served the residents of Carroll and 
Cass Counties as their State Representative for over a decade in the 
Indiana House of Representatives. During that time, he served as 
Majority Whip and Speaker Pro Tempore. Nelson continued to serve the 
state legislature as a government affairs professional for several 
industries providing the part-time legislators with facts to help them 
make decisions on policy issues facing the General Assembly. Nelson's 
service to the great State of Indiana did not go unnoticed. He was a 
recipient of Indiana's highest civilian award, The Sagamore of the 
Wabash.
  Nelson truly cared about the City of Logansport and it showed through 
his actions. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of 
Logansport Savings Bank and the Board of Directors of the First 
National Bank of Logansport. He was also the former President of the 
Cass County YMCA Board of Directors and the United Fund Board of 
Directors and held memberships with the First United Methodist Church, 
the Elks, and American Legion.
  I had known Nelson for many years and always appreciated his advice 
and council on a variety of issues. Nelson was one of the very first 
people to support me in my bid for public service. And he was quite 
literally the first person to turn his verbal support into concrete 
action. I will never forget that . . . or the small group of Logansport 
leaders who met with me in Nelson's house one evening in 2001 to 
support my goals for public service.
  Nelson leaves Dixie, his beloved wife, five sons, and fifteen 
grandchildren to carry on his legacy of service to fellow Hoosiers. 
Anyone who knew him well knows what a great loss his passing is for our 
community and the State of Indiana. May he rest in peace, he will not 
be forgotten.

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