[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16240]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       HONOR OF THOMAS L. BERKLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas L. Berkley for his 
contributions to the community and to the nation.
  Mr. Berkley, who was born in Illinois in 1915, moved with his family 
to Southern California at the age of four. In 1936, he attended 
Fullerton Junior College, where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree. 
He went on to UCLA and completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in 
Business Administration and Finance, and then attended Hastings Law 
School in San Francisco where he received his Juris Doctor and became 
active in the NAACP. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 
1943.
  After finishing his academic career, Mr. Berkley proudly joined the 
United States Army and fought bravely in World War II, achieving the 
rank of Second Lieutenant.
  At the end of the war, Mr. Berkley returned to Oakland in the Bay 
Area and became the head of one of the nation's largest integrated, 
bilingual law firms. He helped establish the careers of notable men 
such as Judges Clinton White and Allen Broussard, and former Mayors of 
Oakland, Elihu Harris and Lionel Wilson.
  Mr. Berkley has not only been active in law, but also in business and 
in the media. He was the president of Berkley International Ltd, 
Berkley Technical Services and CEO of Berkley Financial Services. Mr. 
Berkley also was the publisher of the Alameda Publishing Corporation 
which publishes the Oakland, San Francisco and Richmond Post 
newspapers. in the public service arena, Tom Berkley served as a Member 
of the Oakland Unified School District School Board and an advisor to 
the Greater ACORN Community Improvement Association.
  Mr. Berkley is a ``Man for all Seasons''. He is a visionary, a 
motivator, an educator, a mentor, and an entrepreneur. He has made a 
significant contribution in all of his many local, state, national, and 
international endeavors and has given his all for the betterment of our 
community and society.
  As a friend and supporter, Tom Berkley has always been a trusted 
confidant, and I have benefitted from his wisdom, his encouragement, 
and his compassion.
  I am honored to salute Tom Berkley, and I take great pride in 
celebrating with his family, friends and colleagues his distinguished 
life and accomplishments.

                          ____________________