[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 428-429]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 JUDGE RICHARD B. ALLSBROOK POST OFFICE

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4211) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 725 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, North 
Carolina, as the ``Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4211

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. JUDGE RICHARD B. ALLSBROOK POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 725 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, 
     North Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``Judge 
     Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4211 
which names a postal facility in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, the 
Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office.
  H.R. 4211 was introduced by Representative Butterfield of North 
Carolina on November 15, 2007. It was reported from the House Oversight 
Committee on December 12, 2007 by voice vote. This measure has been 
cosponsored by 12 Members and has support of the entire North Carolina 
congressional delegation.
  I am asking the House to join me in honoring Judge Richard B. 
Allsbrook, a dedicated civil servant, who passed away in October 2007.
  Judge Allsbrook served his country as a second lieutenant in the 
United States Navy before becoming an attorney in North Carolina at a 
family law firm. In 1978, Judge Allsbrook was appointed resident 
superior court judge for the Sixth Judicial District, from which he 
retired in September 2000. In addition, he served as a mediator in the 
North Carolina judicial system, and was sitting president of the 
Roanoke Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

                              {time}  1445

  The community was deeply touched by his efforts. Madam Speaker, I 
urge swift passage of this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of this bill honoring the 
late Honorable Judge Richard B. Allsbrook with the naming of the Judge 
Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office located at 725 Roanoke Avenue, in 
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Described as a ``meticulous, fair and 
compassionate'' jurist, Allsbrook served as the Superior Court Judge 
for the Sixth Judicial District in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, for 
22 years before retiring in 2000.
  A native of Halifax, and son of the late State Senator Julian 
Allsbrook, Judge Allsbrook earned his undergraduate degree and his 
juris doctorate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
  After spending 4 years as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, 
Allsbrook spent 20 years practicing law with his father in the practice 
of Allsbrook, Benton and Knott.
  Judge Allsbrook was also an active member of the community, serving 
as the president of the Roanoke Rapids Kiwanis Club and the president 
of the Roanoke Rapids Chamber of Commerce. He also received awards for 
his service to the community, including the Boy Scouts of America's 
Distinguished Citizen Award.
  A dedicated father and grandfather, distinguished public servant, and 
valuable member of the community, Judge Allsbrook touched many lives 
and, fittingly, his life deserves to be recognized with the naming of 
the Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office in Roanoke Rapids, North 
Carolina, in his honor.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a great leader 
and powerful figure in North Carolina by naming the post office located 
at 725 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina as the Judge 
Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office. Unfortunately, Judge Allsbrook passed 
away on October 26, 2007, just a few months before we were able to 
bestow upon him this great honor.
  Judge Allsbrook was a native of Halifax County, North Carolina--one 
of the largest and most populated areas of my congressional district. 
He was born in 1929 to State Senator Julian and Mrs. Frances Allsbrook.
  In his formative years, Richard Allsbrook attended Roanoke Rapids 
High School where he excelled academically. After graduating, Richard 
attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where he 
received a bachelors of arts degree. He went on to attend law school at 
the prestigious University of North Carolina School of Law, and 
subsequently served for 4 years with the United States Navy as a second 
lieutenant.
  Madam Speaker, after honorably serving his country in the military, 
Richard returned to Roanoke Rapids to practice law with his father in 
the firm of Allsbrook, Benton and Knott. During his 20 years as a 
practicing attorney, he always took time for his clients and worked 
diligently to ensure that they were represented to the best of his 
ability. His meticulous nature and even temperament served him well 
when he was appointed resident superior court judge for the Sixth 
Judicial District in 1978. Over the next 22 years, he tempered justice 
with mercy, earning a reputation as a fair, compassionate jurist. All 
those present in his courtroom--attorneys, defendants, jurors, 
witnesses and court personnel--consistently found him to be well-
prepared, respectful, and courteous. I had the privilege of practicing 
law before Judge Allsbrook on many occasions

[[Page 429]]

prior to my election as Resident Superior Court Judge when I became his 
colleague.
  After serving as Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for over two 
decades, he retired in September 2000 and worked as a mediator in the 
North Carolina judicial system.
  Judge Allsbrook attended the Rosemary Baptist Church for over 50 
years. He was a dedicated deacon, trustee and Sunday School teacher 
where he worked to enrich each person with whom he came into contact. 
He was also dedicated to improving the community through his 
involvement in the Kiwanis Club where he served as president, and also 
the Roanoke Rapids Chamber of Commerce where he also served as 
president. Because of his dedication and commitment to the community, 
Judge Allsbrook received the Jaycees' Distinguished Service Award and 
also received the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award.
  Madam Speaker, sadly, Judge Allsbrook's devoted and loving wife 
Barbara passed away in February of last year--just 8 months before 
Judge Allsbrook. Judge Allsbrook and his wife Barbara reared 2 
children, Barbara Alison who resides in Roanoke, and Richard Jr., who 
resides in Boston.
  Judge Richard Allsbrook was indeed a pillar of the Halifax community. 
He was my dear friend and I am so proud to have known him. Roanoke 
Rapids, Halifax County, and the State of North Carolina is a better 
place because of Richard Allsbrook's sacrifices and contributions on 
behalf of so many.
  This legislation--H.R. 4211--has bipartisan support and is 
cosponsored by the entire North Carolina Congressional Delegation. It 
is my hope that my colleagues here in the House will join me and my 
North Carolina colleagues in voting ``aye'' on H.R. 4211.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4211.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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