[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 24, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING FRANK Q. NEBEKER

  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, today I would like to honor the life and 
service of a dedicated public servant, distinguished American, and 
champion for veterans: the Honorable Frank Q. Nebeker.
  Judge Nebeker served as the first chief judge of the U.S. Court of 
Veterans Appeals, now known as the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans 
Claims. A long-time Federal judge and legal pioneer, he established the 
landmark court in 1988 before hearing the first case and issuing the 
first opinion in 1989. His work ensured that, for the first time ever, 
veterans had a dedicated court to hear their appeals for their earned 
Department of Veterans Affairs--VA--benefits.
  While Judge Nebeker is no longer with us, his legacy lives on. On 
behalf of myself and my fellow Americans, I would like to extend our 
deepest gratitude for his life and service to this nation.
  Judge Nebeker grew up in the West. He was born in Salt Lake City and 
grew up in Ogden, UT, before graduating from the University of Utah and 
marrying his wife Lou. Together, they moved to Washington, DC, where he 
studied law and worked in President Eisenhower's White House. Working 
as a correspondence secretary, he began his career in public service 
that would last the rest of his life.
  After serving as an attorney for the Department of Justice, he was 
appointed to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in 1969. He 
presided on that bench until President Reagan nominated him to be the 
Director of the Office of Government Ethics in 1987, a position he held 
for 2 years.
  Soon after, Judge Nebeker continued his service to this country when 
President George H.W. Bush appointed him to be the chief judge of the 
newly created United States Court of Veterans Appeals. In this role, he 
was tasked with standing up this new court from the bottom up.
  Judge Nebeker's sharp legal mind and unpretentious demeanor made him 
an ideal person to bring the court to life. He, along with many other 
dedicated individuals who established the court, provided an 
opportunity for the men and women who served our country to appeal for 
the VA benefits they earned for the first time ever. Many veterans live 
a better life today because of the judicial system Frank helped 
establish.
  He oversaw the court until his retirement in 2000 and served in 
senior status on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals until 2021. 
While he left the court, his enduring legacy of serving veterans lived 
on at the U.S. Court of Appeals, where the Veterans Appeals courtroom 
is named in his honor.
  On January 4, 2024, Judge Nebeker passed away at the age of 93 years 
old. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lou, his children Melia 
and William, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
  It is my honor to recognize Judge Nebeker's decades of public service 
and commitment to serving our veterans and their families. His work 
will continue to benefit generations of veterans nationwide for years 
to come, and he will be sorely missed.

                          ____________________