[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12599]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        IN MEMORY OF HENRY WADE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 28, 2001

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
great and legendary District Attorney, the late Henry Wade of Dallas, 
whose 35-year career brought him national attention for his handling of 
the murder trial of Jack Ruby and the landmark abortion case Roe v. 
Wade. Henry passed away on March 1 at the age of 86, leaving a powerful 
legacy that will be reviewed and remembered as part of our Nation's 
history.
  It is said that Henry never lost a case he personally prosecuted. He 
took office in 1951 and compiled one of the Nation's lowest rates of 
acquittal. In 1964, Henry led the prosecution of Jack Ruby, who shot to 
death Lee Harvey Oswald, the man charged with assassinating President 
Kennedy. Ruby died in prison while awaiting a death sentence. The 1973 
Roe v. Wade decision establishing the right to an abortion began in 
Texas when a pregnant woman, identified in court documents as ``Jane 
Roe,'' sued Henry for enforcing a state law prohibiting abortion except 
when necessary to save a woman's life.
  These famous cases will be reviewed by attorneys, the courts, and 
students of history for years to come. The name, ``Henry Wade,'' evokes 
an image of a quintessential Texas prosecuting attorney--a formidable 
and compelling advocate in the courtroom--whose folksy, country-boy 
demeanor disguised his keen intellect. Henry was a 1938 graduate of the 
University of Texas law school with highest honors, an editor of the 
law review, and a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Beta Kappa. 
Throughout his illustrious career, Henry was a role model for countless 
young prosecuting attorneys--as well as a nemesis for defense lawyers.
  Following law school, Henry practiced law, was an FBI special agent 
in the United States and abroad, and served in the Navy during World 
War II. After the war, he joined the district attorney's office in 
Dallas, becoming chief felony prosecutor before winning election as 
district attorney. And the rest is history.
  During World War II Henry served as a Fighter Director for Navy 
pilots. At one time he was at the top of the list in ``splashes''--the 
term used for destroyed Japanese planes. Henry and his lifelong friend 
and fellow Navy officer, Thomas Unis, were inseparable during the War, 
and they both made a great and successful transition into public 
civilian life. The late Tom Unis prosecuted with Henry and later was a 
leading and highly regarded attorney and partner in the Dallas law 
firm, Strasburger, Price, Kelton, Martin and Unis. I was privileged to 
litigate with both Henry and Tom and served with them at a couple of 
bases in the Pacific toward the end of World War II. I dearly respected 
and loved these two guys--as did all who knew them.
  Mr. Speaker, Henry was a great and legendary District Attorney, a 
super American, and a good friend of mine. He will be missed by his 
children and their families, Michele Brandenberger and husband, Mike; 
William Kim Wade and wife, Suzanne; Henry Wade, Jr., and wife, Kristin; 
Wendy Ballew and husband, David; Bari Henson and husband, Dave; and 15 
grandchildren. And he will be remembered. As we adjourn today, let us 
do so by paying our last respects to ``The Chief'', as he was known 
around the Dallas courthouse--Henry Wade.

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