[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18637-18638]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM BREVARD HAND

                                  _____
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and the state of 
Alabama lost a dear friend last week, and I rise today to honor Senior 
U.S. District Judge William Brevard Hand and pay tribute to his memory.
  Mobile's Press-Register remembered Judge Hand as ``a fair, thoughtful 
and tough jurist who did not shy away from high profile cases that 
might upset the powers-that-be.'' Certainly, one of the high profile 
cases for which history will most remember him was his courageous 
ruling in favor of classroom prayer.
  A native and life-long resident of Mobile, Judge Hand attended Murphy 
High School and completed his undergraduate studies at the University 
of Alabama. His education was interrupted by the call to defend his 
country during World War II. He served in Europe as a combat infantry 
rifleman from the Battle of the Bulge through VE Day and also served 
with the occupation army in Czechoslovakia. When he returned to the 
United States following the war, he completed his education by earning 
his law degree from the University of Alabama.
  After graduation, Judge Hand returned to Mobile and began his 
illustrious law career by working for the firm his father, Charles, 
helped found, now known as Hand Arendall. He continued with the firm 
until President Richard Nixon appointed him to the Federal bench in 
1971, and incredibly, he was active in cases as recently as last month.
  A lifelong member of Dauphin Way Methodist Church, Judge Hand served 
in all lay capacities of the church. He was named honorary member of 
the administrative board as well as lifetime steward of the church, the 
highest honor the church can bestow.
  I had the privilege of visiting with Judge Hand just last month at 
the courthouse, and there is no other judge who has served with greater 
dignity and compassion.
  Earlier this week, over 1,000 people filled Dauphin Way Methodist 
Church to honor the life of Judge Hand. Rev. Stephen F. Dill, pastor 
emeritus of the church said, ``His friendship reached across the 
boundaries of wealth and status.'' The Rev. Gorman Houston III, senior 
pastor at Dauphin Way, provided a poignant tribute, noting ``How 
grateful we are for the life of William Brevard Hand.''

[[Page 18638]]

  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a 
dedicated community leader, a friend to many throughout south Alabama, 
as well as a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Judge Brevard 
Hand will be dearly missed by his family--his daughters, Jane Hand 
Dukes, Virginia Hand Hollis and Allison Hand Peebles; his 
grandchildren, Brevard Dukes Hinton, Ann Chandler Dukes Shuleva, David 
Dewitt Dukes, Jr., Elizabeth Alan Hollis, Katherine Hollis Taylor, John 
Connor H. Peebles, and William Battle Peebles; his great-grandchildren, 
Tom, William and Jane Hinton; and his brother Dr. James Albert Hand--as 
well as the countless friends he leaves behind. Our thoughts and 
prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

                          ____________________