[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21086]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    A SALUTE TO THE HONORABLE RICHARD L. HUGHES FOR HIS 15 YEARS OF 
             PRINCIPLED SERVICE ON THE 67TH DISTRICT COURT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2010

  Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today and ask my colleagues to join 
me as I salute Richard L. Hughes upon his retirement from the 67th 
District Court in Burton, Michigan, after 15 years of proud and 
principled service.
  Judge Hughes was first appointed to the bench in 1994. He ran 
successfully for the balance of the judicial term in 1996, and was 
twice re-elected to the position in 1998 and 2004. But his tenure on 
the bench was merely a capstone to his many years of formal public 
service. Dick's story is truly the archetype of ``local boy makes 
good.'' Not many years after graduating from the Detroit College of Law 
in 1968 and practicing law in Detroit for a time, Dick and his wife 
Suzanne moved their young family to their long-time homestead in 
Otisville, just miles from where he was raised.
  Dick practiced law in the community for 26 years before his 
appointment. During that time and continuing today, Dick was active in 
his church and as a Rotarian in the Davison and Burton clubs.
  In formal service to the community, Dick truly carried on a long 
family tradition of holding public office. He was urged by community 
members to serve on the Lakeville School Board when the district was in 
the midst of challenging financial times. He served nearly a decade, 
and 6 years as president. True to his nature and sense of practicality, 
Dick successfully reduced the board member's compensation to just $1 a 
year during the lean years.
  When Dick was appointed to the 67th District Court bench in 1994, he 
was presented the gavel of our great-great grandfather Julian Peters 
who was Justice of the Peace for 24 years in Rochester, Michigan. We 
are all grateful that Dick has carried on our family's tradition of 
proud public service in the judicial branch of government.
  I know that Dick's thoughtful expertise on the bench will be missed. 
The Burton community is fortunate, however, that Dick's son-in-law Mark 
Latchana will carry on Dick's tradition of proud and principled service 
after Mark's successful election to the seat this past November.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join my salute to my cousin, 
Dick Hughes, for his commitment to excellence on the bench, his 
dedication to community and family, and his tireless service to the 
public. I wish Dick, his wife Suzanne, their children Beth and Michael 
and their families the very best enjoyment of Dick's formal retirement. 
I have no doubt that although he is shedding the black robe, his 
service to the community will continue in earnest for many years to 
come.

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