[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3567-H3568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE JAMES KNECHT, ILLINOIS' FOURTH DISTRICT 
                        APPELLATE COURT JUSTICE

  (Mr. LaHood of Illinois was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Illinois' Fourth District Appellate Court Justice James ``Jim'' Knecht 
as he reaches the milestone of serving 50 years as a judge.
  Jim was born in Lincoln, Illinois, and earned his juris doctor degree 
from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1973.

                              {time}  1140

  In 1975, Jim began his judicial career serving as an associate 
circuit judge and was soon after promoted to circuit judge. In 1986, 
Judge Knecht was elected to the Illinois Fourth District Appellate 
Court. He is currently the longest serving judge in Illinois court 
history and an accredited leader within our Illinois legal community.
  Outside of the courtroom, Judge Knecht is heavily involved in 
communities across Illinois and with his alma maters. He serves on both 
the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council and on the National 
Advisory Board of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence.
  At his undergraduate alma mater, Illinois State University, Judge 
Knecht was an adjunct professor for nearly three decades and is a 
recipient of their Distinguished Alumni Award.
  Again, I congratulate Judge Knecht on this momentous achievement in 
his legal career and thank him for his continued service to the State 
of Illinois. I wish Judge Knecht, his wife, Ruth, their children and 
grandchildren all the best in the future.
  I congratulate Judge Knecht.


         Recognizing James Collins, President of Loras College

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jim Collins for 
his extraordinary 20-year tenure as president of Loras College in 
Dubuque, Iowa. As the longest serving president in the school's 
history, Jim has left a lasting impact on Iowa's oldest institution of 
higher education.
  President Collins earned his bachelor of science degree in finance 
from Loras College in 1984. After graduation, he began as an admissions 
representative and advanced through various leadership positions before 
being selected as president in 2004 at the age of 42.
  During President Collins' tenure at Loras College, the institution 
achieved unprecedented growth. He oversaw actions to raise the 
endowment by 67 percent to support students, expanded graduate and 
professional programs, spearheaded the completion of multiple campus 
renovations, and led the college to consistent recognition by U.S. News 
as a top 15 Midwest baccalaureate institution.
  President Collins' visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to 
Catholic higher education has impacted thousands of students who 
attended and graduated from Loras College.
  I congratulate Jim, his lovely wife, Lisa, and their children and 
grandchildren on this remarkable career. I thank him for his decades of 
service to Loras College and wish him all the best in his well-deserved 
retirement.
  Go Duhawks.

[[Page H3568]]

  

                          ____________________