[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  THE LATE CHARLES E. SIMONS, JR., SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, it gives me no pleasure to rise today 
and seek recognition, for it is to carry out a very sad task, which is 
to mark the passing of one of my longest and closest friends, Judge 
Charles E. Simons, Jr. of Aiken, South Carolina.
  Judge Simons has served with distinction as a Federal District Court 
Judge for the District of South Carolina since his confirmation in 
1964. It was my pleasure to recommend this talented and bright man to 
President Johnson, and everyone who monitors the Federal Bench has been 
impressed with the skill and insight in which Judge Simons adjudicated 
cases. His reputation is that of being a tough, but fair, judge whose 
impartiality is above reproach and whose commitment to the rule of law 
is well known. The respect and admiration of the legal community for 
Judge Simons is evidenced by the fact that the Federal Courthouse on 
Park Avenue in Aiken was dedicated in his honor in 1987. Certainly a 
fitting tribute to a man who dedicated thirty-five years of his life to 
the Federal Bench and had served as the Chief Judge of the District 
Court for six years.
  I must confess that Charles Simons was well known to me before I 
advanced his name to the President, for he and I had been law partners 
in Aiken, South Carolina for many years. He was such an able and 
intelligent man, he was a great asset to our practice. In 1954, we had 
to end our partnership because of my election to the United States 
Senate, but Charles Simons continued to prosper as an attorney, earning 
a well deserved reputation as an outstanding general practice lawyer.
  While Charles Simons loved his work and the law, it was not an all 
consuming passion, and he enjoyed many other activities outside the 
courtroom. South Carolina is a beautiful state, and its citizens 
eagerly engage in activities that allow them to spend as much time as 
possible outside enjoying the natural beauty of the Palmetto State. For 
Charles Simons, these activities included golf, hunting, and fishing, 
each which he pursued with an unflagging enthusiasm. These pursuits not 
only allowed him a temporary reprieve from the weighty responsibilities 
of the duties of a Federal District Court Judge, but they also allowed 
him to spend time with his friends.
  One of the things that bonds friendships is shared interests, and 
both Charles and I had a shared interest in physical fitness. He 
remained a fit and active man right up until July of this year when he 
suffered brain damage as a result of a fall. Sadly, surgery did not 
return Charles to his previous health and he began a decline that 
resulted in his death yesterday at the age of eighty-three. Though his 
passing was not entirely unexpected, it still is a blow to his family 
and friends and to the South Carolina legal community.
  While many mourn the death of Charles Simons, we should take the 
opportunity to be certain we celebrate his life and accomplishments. He 
served the nation in a time of war, he was an accomplished attorney, a 
respected judge, and a devoted family man. He leaves a body of work 
that stands as case law and he has set a standard for other public 
servants to follow. All these accomplishments are even more impressive 
when one considers Charles' humble beginnings and the fact that he 
accomplished all he did through hard work, determination, and 
intelligence.
  I am deeply saddened to have lost such a good friend and I share the 
grief of the Simons' family. They have my deepest sympathies and my 
heartfelt condolences on the death of Charles.

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