[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2589]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF JUDGE LAURENCE E. HOWARD

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
remarkable person from my home state of Michigan, Judge Laurence E. 
Howard. On February 26, 1999, Judge Howard will retire after 23 years 
of service to the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of 
Michigan.
  Judge Howard's history of public service is truly deserving of 
recognition. After serving his country in the Army during the Korean 
War, he received his Juris Doctor degree from Notre Dame in 1961. He 
then embarked upon a short career in the private sector, and in 1961, 
he returned to the public arena as Assistant City Attorney of Grand 
Rapids, Michigan. A couple of years later, he decided to return to 
private practice, but in 1968, the call of public service encouraged 
him to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Though his bid for 
office was unsuccessful, he remained active in local politics over the 
next several years. In 1976, he was appointed to the Bankruptcy Court 
for the Western District of Michigan. For the last 23 years, Judge 
Howard has served with integrity and compassion.
  His departure from the bench will certainly mark a new chapter in his 
life. I am confident that it will be as successful as his law career. 
Though he plans to remain active in the Grand Rapids area, he will 
surely enjoy spending more time with Marilyn, his wife of over forty 
years, his four children and sixteen grandchildren. I am pleased to 
join his colleagues, friends and family in offering my thanks for all 
he has done.
  Mr. President, Judge Laurence E. Howard can take pride in his long 
career of honor and dedication to the public. I know my colleagues will 
join me in saluting Judge Howard's commitment to his community, his 
country and the law, and in wishing him well in his retirement.

                          ____________________