To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 221 and 211 West Ferguson Street in Tyler, Texas, as the "William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse".

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my good friend, Mr. Shuster, yielding. I do rise today to speak in support of H.R. 5606, to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 221 and 211 West Ferguson Street in Tyler as the William M. Steger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.

Immediately after Judge Steger's death, my good and long-time friend, Congressman Ralph Hall, had spoken to me about what I also had in my heart, and that is paying a tribute to Judge Steger by naming this Federal building for Judge Steger. I appreciate my friend, Mr. Hall, and his commitment to his old friend and also the respect we both had for Judge Steger.

Judge Steger was a heroic patriot, he was a caring father, he was a loving husband, an evenhanded, clear-thinking, constitutionally understanding judge, and he was a personal mentor. He was a cherished friend.

After I finished the 4 years I owed the United States Army from a scholarship at A&M and my wife and I considered coming back to Tyler, Judge Steger was one of the first people I talked to about it. Judge Steger was the father of Reed Steger and husband of Ann Steger, and their son Reed was one of my little brother's very best friends.

I learned a great deal from Judge Steger. Most people never did really come to know all that he had done and what he was, but he was a Dallas native originally. He always wanted the opportunity to become a pilot; and when the Nation entered World War II, he took the chance. On November 9, 1942, he got his wings; and, after training, he was sent to Casablanca and flew 56 combat missions, for which he received an Air Medal and four oak leaf clusters. While later training other pilots, Captain Steger also tested the first U.S. jet airplanes. If judged only by his service here, he would be counted as a hero, but he was much more than that.

Once his Nation was secure, Bill Steger went back to school, received his law degree from Southern Methodist University Law School, and then he engaged in private practice in Longview and Tyler and headed up numerous east Texas campaign clubs for a gentleman named Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was running for president. After the election, President Eisenhower appointed Judge Steger in 1953 to the position of U.S. Attorney for east Texas at the very young age of 32.

Judge Steger was up to the task. He became a Federal District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas in December, 1970, after President Richard Nixon nominated him.

He did truly love being a jurist. He was a hardworking, dedicated, cerebral, no-nonsense constitutional constructionist judge, whose discerning intellect could always cut straight to the heart of any issue. I know. I tried cases in front of this great judge.

In 1987, Judge Steger assumed senior active status duty, but since there still needed cases to be handled, Judge Steger stepped in and stood in the gap. December 1, 2005, marked 35 years on the Federal bench for Judge Steger. Since his appointment in 1970, he had handled more than 15,000 cases.

Judge Steger not only made his home in Tyler, Texas, a better place, but he changed Texas politics. In 1960, he and a good friend debated as to which one should run for Governor and which one should run for Senator. Their goal was to bring the Republican Party into popularity in the State of Texas. Because Texas was conservative, it seemed to Judge Steger that it would be a good fit, but he was blazing a trail.

He ended up being the one to run for Governor against a very popular John Connolly. Judge Steger's good friend,

named John Tower, ran for Senator. The Republican Party had never received enough votes to hold a primary, and even though Judge Steger knew he couldn't win the race, he hoped he would get the requisite 200,000 votes so the Republican Party could hold a primary in the next election. Judge Steger actually received more than 600,000 votes that year. Texas then became eligible to begin having Republican primaries because of Judge Steger.

Always having the courage of his convictions, despite the odds against him, Judge Steger was a profile in courage whose memory will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. At the 2004 Tyler Law Day, Judge Steger received the Justinian award for his community service, his legal ethics, and professionalism.

He was a Baptist, a Baptist's Baptist. He was a charter member and deacon at Green Acres Baptist Church, helping to nurse it through its early days of growing from nonexistence to its current 12,000 members. He was a confidant to me, he was a friend, and he was a wise sounding board.

He and Ann endured the worst heartache a couple can face in the loss of their only child, Reed, in a tragic scuba diving accident. But the manner in which Judge Steger dealt with such devastation and allowed his faith, God's help and Ann's companionship to help overcome this horrendous blow has always and will always be an inspiration to me.

It is an honor to be a part of this bill that will create a lasting tribute to such a deserving man. I thank my friend, Mr. Hall, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5606 in order to commemorate the life of an ideal American.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, and I thank my colleague Louie Gohmert. It is an honor to join Louie in sponsoring H.R. 5606, a bill to designate the Federal building and courthouse in Tyler, Texas.

Judge Steger passed away on June 4, having served on the bench with great distinction for, I guess 35, 36, 37 years. I appeared before him. I was in law school with him at SMU. He was a great American. He was just really a wonderful guy, just a super friend.

He was a great jurist. Judge was successful in everything he did in life, including the marrying of his wife Ann, to serving his country in World War II, to being in public service.

I had known Bill Steger when we were fellow law students at Southern Methodist University following World War II and had the utmost respect and admiration for him. I did not like him too much because he was very brilliant and he ruined the curve for a lot of us ordinary lawyers there and law students, but we had a lot of laughs about that.

He was appointed by Richard Nixon. He began a long and distinguished service as U.S. District Judge in December of 1970. He served in Beaumont until 1977 and then returned to Tyler, where he built upon a reputation for efficiency and integrity. He closed more than 6,500 cases, issued several landmark decisions and was rarely reversed on appeal.

Judge was a constitutionally reverent jurist, upheld the highest ideals of our judicial system and earned the respect of fellow jurists, attorneys and their clients.

As a testament to his contributions on the Federal bench, Judge was honored in 2005 by current and former law clerks, attorneys, fellow jurists, local officials, friends and admirers at a attribute dinner in Tyler.

Prior to his appointment to the Federal bench, he was appointed by President Eisenhower as U.S. District Attorney in East Texas, a position he held from 1952 to 1969. Judge had been Eisenhower's East Texas campaign manager and was the founding father of East Texas Republican politics.

He also distinguished himself in service to his country by answering his call to duty and enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was studying pre-law at Baylor University at the time but did not hesitate to enlist.

He flew 56 combat missions as a fighter pilot in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy, received the Air Medal and four Oak Leaf Clusters and obtained the rank of Captain. While later training other pilots, Captain Steger also tested the very first U.S. jet airplanes.

Upon completion of his military service in 1947, Judge returned to Dallas and enrolled in SMU. He also made one of the best decisions in his life in his marriage to Ann Hollandsworth Steger. Judge and Ann were inseparable and contributed so much to their community, both separately and as a couple.

Shortly before his death, when it was mentioned to Judge that his law clerks, friends and family were hoping that the Federal Building would be named after him, he quipped, ``and maybe we could also have an Ann- ex.'' Such was his love and respect for his wife of some 58 years.

Judge and Ann, as Congressman Gohmert stated, had a wonderful son named Reed, who died tragically in a scuba diving accident several years ago. It was just a hard time for them to go through. But his faith in God and with God's help and Ann's companionship helped him through that very difficult time.

In closing, Judge Steger just really was one of the great judges of the Eastern District. Naming the Federal building for him would be a living tribute and would remain long after we are all gone, while others will see his name and know it stood for justice. Judge Steger leaves a powerful legacy of ethical conduct, judicial prudence and distinguished service that will long be remembered.

I urge my colleagues to support me today in support of H.R. 5606 in honor of this great jurist and great American, the late Judge William M. Steger.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 5606 is a bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 221 West Ferguson Street in Tyler, Texas, as the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Judge William Steger was born on August 22, 1920, in Dallas, Texas. He attended local schools and Baylor University. In 1941, the war interrupted his studies; and in 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army. After training as a pilot, he served in North Africa and flew 56 missions over North Africa and Italy in Spitfires, the famous British fighter plane.

Upon his return to Texas, he enrolled in South Methodist University as a pre-law student. In 1950, he graduated with honors from law school. Shortly after Eisenhower was elected, he appointed him to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. He served until 1959 and then entered private practice. He was the Republican nominee in the Texas Governor's race in 1960. President Nixon appointed him to the Federal bench in 1970, beginning his long and distinguished Federal judicial career.

He died in June of this year at age 85 and was known for his effective and judicial integrity and carried a heavy caseload even when he entered senior status. He was routinely described as an honest, ethical man and was a role model to teachers, his law clerks, lawyers, and fellow judges. It is both fitting and proper to honor the long public service of Judge Steger with this designation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5606) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 221 and 211 West Ferguson Street in Tyler, Texas, as the ``William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 5606, introduced by my good friends Ralph Hall and Louie Gohmert of Texas, designates the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 221 and 211 West Ferguson Street in Tyler, Texas, as the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse. This bill honors William Steger, who dedicated most of his life to Federal service.

Judge Steger's service began in 1941 when he joined the Army Air Corps the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. By 1952, Judge Steger was a seasoned attorney and appointed to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas by President Eisenhower.

Judge Steger's career as a judge began in 1970 with an appointment to the Federal bench by President Nixon. During his tenure, he closed more than 6,500 cases, issued several landmark decisions and was rarely reversed on an appeal. Judge Steger passed away June 4, 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5606 is a bill to designate the Federal building and U.S. courthouse located at 221 West Ferguson St. in Tyler, TX as the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse.

Judge William Steger was born in 1920 in Dallas, TX. He attended local schools and Baylor University. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. After training as a pilot, he served in Northern Africa and flew 56 missions over North Africa and Italy in Spitfires, the famous British fighter plane.

In the 1950s, President Eisenhower appointed him to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. In 1960, Judge Steger was the Republican nominee in the Texas governor race in 1960. In 1970, President Nixon appointed him to the Federal bench, beginning his long and distinguished Federal judicial career. Judge Steger passed away this past June.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5606.