[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 5166-5167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING RICHARD F. SCHOLZ, JR.

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last week the city of Quincy, in my home 
State of Illinois, lost a tough, principled, and fair public servant--
but more importantly, a fine man. Judge Richard F. Scholz, Jr., passed 
away at the age of 87.
  Judge Scholz was the quintessential public servant. He was a voice 
for the underprivileged and a passionate advocate for the most 
vulnerable in the community. He spent more than 24 years as a judge, 
fighting for at risk youths and a more equitable juvenile justice 
system. Although Judge Scholz could be tough, he had a softer side that 
put a gentle and compassionate face on the criminal justice system. He 
was celebrated in the courts for his well-reasoned and thoughtful 
decisions. Throughout his tenure, he was honored by several civic 
organizations and community groups, but it was dealing one-on-one with 
people that gave him the greatest joy and satisfaction.
  Chuck Scholz, former Quincy mayor and Judge Scholz's nephew, recalled 
meeting a longtime Quincy resident who told him a story: ``Your uncle 
sent me to jail, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.'' 
He went on to explain how Judge Scholz visited him one day at the 
correctional facility in St. Charles. The reason for his visit? To make 
sure he got his diploma while he was incarcerated. And when he was 
released, Judge Scholz got him a job. That is the kind of man Judge 
Scholz was. He understood that the job didn't end in his courtroom.
  Judge Scholz believed in serving the community by serving the 
individual. He knew the recipe for building strong, healthy communities 
was getting the right people involved in the right way. And the 
community was better for it.
  Born in 1928, Judge Scholz grew up in Quincy and attended St. Francis 
grade school, Quincy Notre Dame High School, St. Ambrose College, and 
the University of Illinois. After college, he moved down south and 
received his law degree from Mercer University in Macon, GA. While 
studying law, he met and married Ellen W. Scholz and shared 58 
wonderful years before her death in 2009.
  Following law school, the young couple returned to Quincy to raise 
their family and practice law with his father and brother. In 1958, he 
was elected judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit and served as chief judge 
from 1975 to 1979. In 1982, Judge Scholz retired from the bench and 
returned to private practice.
  During his time on the bench, Judge Scholz presided over high profile 
cases, fought for higher pay for the county's chief probation officer 
and the Youth Home superintendent, and he worked tirelessly with 
community leaders to build the Adams County Youth Home, now the Adams 
County Juvenile Detention Center--one of only nine facilities of its 
kind in Illinois.
  Hanging above the doorway at the Scholz family farm, there was a sign 
that read: ``You will only be a stranger here but once.'' Always 
willing to offer a helping hand, Judge Scholz made time for everyone. 
He helped young attorneys understand the right way to conduct 
themselves in and out of the courtroom. As a mentor to countless 
attorneys, judges, and children, Judge Scholz's mark on the community 
will endure for years.
  I will close with one more story. Years ago, a mother from a Quincy 
family had been murdered. Her children were orphaned, and State welfare 
officials planned on placing them into different foster homes. Judge 
Scholz wouldn't hear of it. He said: ``No, you are not breaking up this 
family.'' The family stayed together, and there is a photo of them 
standing around Judge Scholz, with the words: our hero, carved into the 
picture--a hero indeed.
  The stories of Judge Scholz's kindness and affection to the children 
and families in Quincy go on and on--what a legacy and what a great 
friend to the people of Quincy. Judge Scholz will certainly be missed.

[[Page 5167]]



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