[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 25145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             RETIREMENT OF THE HONORABLE CLAYTON E. PREISEL

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
Honorable Clayton E. Preisel, who is retiring on December 31, 2000, 
after an extraordinary career spanning over 50 years. During this time, 
he has served in the Marine Corps, been a teacher and school 
administrator, and, for the past 18 years, presided over the Lapeer 
County Probate Court. Whatever the forum, Judge Preisel has been a 
leader and an inspiration to those around him.
  Judge Preisel was born on January 29, 1927. He graduated from Imlay 
City High School in 1945, and departed for the Marines in July of that 
same year. He served until August of 1946, and then returned to the 
State of Michigan to attend Michigan State University. He graduated 
from MSU in 1951 with a degree in Agriculture.
  After graduation, Judge Preisel moved to Carson City, Michigan, and 
began teaching. After four years, he returned home to Imlay City, where 
he continued his teaching career. He taught in Imlay City until 1969, 
and spent the final two years of his tenure there as both a teacher and 
a school administrator. During this time, Judge Preisel also doubled as 
a student, obtaining a Master's of Science degree in 1956, and, in 
1968, receiving a Jurist Doctorate degree from the Detroit College of 
Law.
  Upon receiving his law degree, Judge Preisel entered into private 
practice, where he stayed until 1982, when he was elected to serve as 
Lapeer County Probate Judge. He has held this position for the past 18 
years, and during his time on the bench has become respected not only 
for his knowledge of the law but also for his sensical approach to its 
application. Individuals leave Judge Preisel's courtroom with the 
knowledge that they have been treated fairly, which in my mind is the 
most worthy thing that can be said of a Judge.
  Judge Preisel has always found time to partake in community service. 
He was a member of the Imlay School Board from 1969-1983. He has also 
been involved in 4-H, the Lions Club, the Community Foundation, United 
Way, Kids In New Directions (KIND), Big Brothers-Big Sisters, and the 
Lapeer County Bar Association.
  Judge Preisel's retirement will allow him to spend more time with his 
family. He and his wife, Beulah Joann Anderson, who celebrated their 
50th Anniversary on September 9th, 2000, have four children (Kathleen, 
Janet, Karen and James), and five grandchildren (Heather, Jason, 
Alysha, Katelyn and Steven).
  I applaud Judge Preisel for his extraordinary service to Lapeer 
County and the State of Michigan. His leadership in all phases of his 
career has been exceptional and will be dearly missed. On behalf of the 
entire United States Senate, I congratulate and thank the Honorable 
Clayton E. Preisel on a wonderful and successful career, and wish him 
the best of luck in retirement.

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