[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING MERLE WILBERDING'S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY AT COOLIDGE WALL LAW 
                          FIRM IN DAYTON, OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 19, 2023

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Merle Wilberding, a 
close friend from my Congressional district, who is celebrating 50 
years as an attorney and partner at the law firm Coolidge Wall in 
Dayton, Ohio. Founded in 1853, Coolidge Wall is one of the oldest and 
most respected law firms in Ohio. Merle moved to Dayton after his 
discharge from the military, and officially joined the firm on June 25, 
1973.
  The values of hard work, integrity, and service to others have guided 
Merle throughout his long and distinguished career in the legal 
profession. Merle earned his law degree from the University of Notre 
Dame in 1969. After practicing law for 54 years, he remains at the very 
top of his profession, having earned the distinction of being named the 
2023 ``Lawyer of the Year'' in Corporate Law for all of Dayton by the 
publication Best Lawyers. He is an active community leader and 
volunteer, a prolific free-lance writer, the author of seven books and 
numerous articles published in national law reviews, and has worked on 
multiple high-profile cases that gained national attention.
  During the Vietnam War, Merle served four years as a Captain in the 
Judge Advocate General's Corps in Washington, D.C. As a 27-year-old 
U.S. Army lawyer, he represented the government in briefing and arguing 
the appeal of Lt. William Calley's court martial for his role in the My 
Lai Massacre and the Presidio Mutiny case, a non-violent anti-war 
demonstration at the Presidio Army Base in San Francisco. He 
represented the Army in 800 appeals and argued 100 cases. For his 
honorable service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the 
Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
  In 2008, a servicemember from our community, Maria Lauterbach, was 
murdered by a fellow marine after she reported a sexual assault. Merle 
offered to represent the Lauterbach family on a pro bono basis, and 
began his advocacy for victims of sexual assault in the military. 
Merle's work on this case resulted in multiple appearances on national 
news programs and testimony before the U.S. Congress. I teamed with 
Merle to seek justice for the Lauterbach family by pushing for changes 
in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and enacting new laws to combat 
sexual assault in the military, empower sexual assault victims, and 
establish a safer environment for all who serve in our Armed Forces.
  Merle's wisdom, compassion, and knowledge of the law has repeatedly 
earned him the respect of his peers. His name is routinely included in 
the annual lists of the Top 5 percent of Lawyers in the State of Ohio, 
and the Best Lawyers in America. He was inducted into the Ohio Veterans 
Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma 
mater, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, for his commitment to the 
values of service and ethical leadership that the University seeks to 
instill in its students.
  In both his personal and professional life, Merle Wilberding has set 
an excellent example for all of us who work to serve our communities 
and our nation. I have had the privilege of knowing Merle for many 
years, and I am proud to call him my friend.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Merle Wilberding as 
he celebrates this significant milestone in his legal career.

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