[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1957-H1958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE OF JUDGE HARRY WALKER WELLFORD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KUSTOFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Judge Harry Walker Wellford, who passed away Saturday, April 17.
  Judge Wellford was a third-generation Memphian, who dedicated his 
life to serving his community through the

[[Page H1958]]

justice system, and also dedicated his life to his family.
  Judge Wellford started serving his community in our great country at 
a young age. Like so many of his generation, the Greatest Generation, 
Harry served our Nation fighting in the Pacific theater during World 
War II. After serving our Nation overseas, Harry Wellford returned to 
his home State of Tennessee to obtain his law degree from Vanderbilt 
University.
  In the 1960s, a turbulent time for our Nation and for Memphis, Harry 
Wellford was an active member of the biracial Memphis Relations 
Committee, serving for the betterment of the Memphis community.
  It was during this time that Harry Wellford became politically 
active, leading the west Tennessee efforts for Howard Baker's campaign 
for the United States Senate; and then, in 1970, managing the Statewide 
campaign for his good friend, Winfield Dunn, to become Governor of 
Tennessee.
  Harry had a good and successful law practice and was well-regarded in 
the legal community. It was for these reasons that Harry was nominated 
for a Federal judgeship in 1970 by then-President Richard Nixon. Judge 
Wellford was unanimously confirmed as district court judge. Later, 
President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Wellford for the Sixth Circuit 
Court of Appeals, to which he was confirmed.
  Judge Wellford had a long and distinguished career on the bench. A 
good friend of Judge Wellford was Judge Julia Gibbons, who currently 
serves on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and, in 1982, replaced 
Judge Wellford on the district court when he was elevated to the 
appellate court. Commenting on him yesterday, Judge Gibbons said: Harry 
Wellford was one of the people we most admire to become; he was my 
friend; his touch with people emanated in everything he did in life.
  Madam Speaker, Harry and his wife, Katherine, were members of 
Idlewild Presbyterian Church before she passed away. They loved to 
travel, and he enjoyed spending his free time playing tennis and golf. 
Despite being a well-distinguished judge and a political reformer for 
the State of Tennessee, what mattered most to Harry was his family.
  Judge Wellford's favorite song was ``Eternal Father Strong to Save,'' 
more commonly known as ``The Navy Hymn.'' So appropriate for him and 
for his generation.
  Indeed, Harry Wellford will be sorely missed by all who knew him. 
Today, Roberta and I are thinking about Harry and his five children: 
Harry, Jr.; Beasley; Buck; Kate; and Allison.
  Harry Wellford, thank you for your service to our great Nation.

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