CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E1689 of Dallas, and the Greater Dallas Community award is typically given for promoting U.S.- IN MEMORY OF FEDERAL JUDGE Relations Commission. Japan relations and community service. Fif- FRANK M. JOHNSON, JR. Tom Unis not only had a record of commu- teen people garnered the award in the United nity involvement, but was also able to use an States. HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS impressive educational background to gain Mr. Takahashi has left an indelible mark on OF FLORIDA success in his career. Mr. Unis received his healthcare in California's San Joaquin Valley. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES law degree from the University of Texas and He helped build the first hospital in Clovis in Thursday, July 29, 1999 served in the Navy in World War II before he 1950, and more recently participated in build- began practicing law in 1946. As a result of ing a newer one. This hospital is a state-of- Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I the war period, cases mounted in the District the-art healthcare facility serving not only the rise today to pay tribute to the late Federal Attorney's office in Dallas. Mr. Unis, a young Clovis area but also the nearby mountain Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. As a federal prosecutor after World War II, gained experi- communities, including Yosemite National judge, Judge Johnson's decisions literally ence in the office of the District Attorney, Park. For his service to the community and to shaped the future and the force of the civil working on cases accumulated from the War healthcare, he was given a proclamation from rights movement in the 1960s. As an indi- period. Tom recalled in an interview that, ``we the Mayor of the city of Fresno. The Board of vidual, he was a man whose commitment to were trying cases morning, noon, and night.'' the Community Health Foundation, which Mr. his ideals and the law did not wane, despite Mr. Unis' legal career extended well into the Takahashi served on for nine years, also rec- considerable personal risk and significant sac- rifice. Mr. Speaker, it is vital that Congress 1980's, when he made his services available ognized him at their annual Community Circle honor Judge Johnson for both of these roles, to Pennzoil, in the Pennzoil v. Texaco cor- dinner in 1996. and to recognize the loss that his recent death porate lawsuit. According to Tom, he was Mr. Takahashi began his relationship with Community Hospitals of Central California represents. compelled to take the case because ``it was Judge Johnson served on the U.S. District (CHCC) when he joined the Board of Clovis the biggest piece of litigation that had come Court in Montgomery, Alabama, for twenty-five Memorial Hospital in 1975. As a board mem- along in years.'' Though Mr. Unis was an in- years, during the height of the civil rights ber, he served on the Corporate Affairs Com- credibly successful attorney, having a four movement in the 1950s and 1960s. In that mittee, the Long-Range Planning Committee, decade career with the firm, Strasburger and time he made several decisions that formed and the Physicians Relations Committee. Mr. Price, he devoted a substantial portion of his the thrust of the civil rights movement. In Takahashi also served on the Audit Com- time to public service. 1956, when deliberating the Montgomery bus mittee and the Quality Assurance Committee Thomas Unis began his participation in the boycott case, he outlawed segregation on political realm in 1939, at the University of at Clovis Hospital. He continued to serve on public transportation, in parks, restaurants, li- Texas, when he serenaded female students the CHCC Foundation Board and until 1977, braries and schools. In the 1960s, Judge as part of a campaign for student office. In he was a member of the Foundation Com- Johnson also signed the original order to inte- 1957, nearly two decades later, Mr. Unis re- mittee responsible for Finance and Asset Man- grate the University of Alabama, as well as the mained involved in local politics, serving on agement. order to allow Martin Luther King Jr. and vot- As he left his formal association with Com- the Dallas City Council. In the early 1960's J. ing rights activists to march from Selma to Erik Jonsson ran for mayor with the backing of munity Hospitals of Central California, he left Montgomery. Moreover, Judge Johnson par- the Dallas Citizens' Charter Association. a relationship that started with a 40-bed hos- ticipated in the decision that ultimately became Jonsson eventually persuaded Mr. Unis to be- pital in Clovis and ended with much more. He the ``one man, one vote'' principal put forth by come his campaign manager for the mayoral was responsible for policy and support to a the Supreme Court. race. Mr. Jonsson, with Tom Unis as his cam- Community Healthcare System with an annual Clearly, Judge Johnson's contribution to the paign manager, won the mayoral race, and operating budget of over $300 million and civil rights movement was both significant and ironically, Mr. Unis later became the president 1,000 beds, reaching out to people from Mo- integral to its ultimate success. His impact was of the Dallas Citizens' Charter Association. desto to Bakersfield. felt not only in Montgomery, but throughout During the 1980s, Thomas Unis served on the Mr. Takahashi has also been active in nu- the South and the nation as well. One must Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board as an merous community organizations and held wonder to what extent the civil rights move- appointee of the Dallas County Commis- various leadership positions within them. He ment would have succeeded without the sup- sioners Court. His presence on the DART has been involved with the Clovis Chamber of port, honesty, and courage of Judge Johnson. board as well as the other associations had a Commerce, the Clovis Unified School District While these decisions are hailed today as significant impact on Dallas, which is why his Foundation, and the Legacy Fund for the JCL. just and honest, Judge Johnson faced severe participation was requested for a large number Mr. Takahashi was a Fresno County rep- criticism, damaging slander, and even per- of public service endeavors. resentative to the California Freestone Peach sonal danger in the time that he made them. Mr. Unis died at the age of 81, and is sur- Association, served as past Director of the Then Governor George Wallace fueled his gu- vived by his wife, Dorothy and four children, Clovis Rotary Club, secretary-treasurer of the bernatorial race by denouncing Judge John- Tom, Joseph, Cheryl, and Mary. Though the Clovis District Coordinating Council, Director/ son, while his mother's home was bombed City of Dallas will mourn the death of Mr. Unis, Founder of Clovis Community Bank, and as and a burning cross was placed on his own we should remember his own words: ``I've had president of the Clovis Japanese American lawn. Yet Judge Johnson did not abandon his a lot of fun all my life,'' we should also cele- National Museum in Los Angeles and is an principles or his commitment to the law. He brate his accomplishments, and the fact that active member of the Fresno Buddhist Church, simply upheld the Constitution and did not he lived a long and memorable life. We all of which he has been a member for 50 years. question the consequences. have lost an incredible person, but celebrate Mr. Takahashi believes that participation in Judge Johnson was truly a great man, Mr. Unis's full and successful life. competitive sports is as important as commu- whose unwavering principles are too rare f nity involvement. He has been president of the today. As a legislator, former judge and law- Central California Amateur Union and a life yer, I am personally inspired by Judge John- HONORING YOSHITO TAKAHASHI member of the Amateur Athletic Union of the son's commitment to the law, and am grateful United States since 1974. Mr. Takahashi also for his influence and the example he set for us HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH served on the Jr. Olympic Judo Committee for all. Indeed, I am fully aware that I was able to OF CALIFORNIA 20 years and was an officer of the Central become the first African American Federal IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES California Judo Black Belt Association. Judge in Florida because of the principles Yoshito Takahashi has received numerous Judge Johnson promoted and the opportuni- Thursday, July 29, 1999 awards for his extensive community involve- ties he made possible for the African Ameri- Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise ment. In 1977, he was named Clovis Citizen cans of my generation. today to honor Clovis native Yoshito of the Year. Two years later, he was inducted Today, I remember him for these opportuni- Takahashi. Mr. Takahashi is among the 34 re- into the Clovis Citizens Hall of Fame. ties, the strides he made in civil rights, the cipients worldwide to win a Medal of Honor Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Yoshito definition he gave to the movement, and most from Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Takahashi for his time and service to his com- of all, his commitment to what he perceived as award is the Order of the Sacred Treasure, munity and for promoting U.S. and Japan rela- right and just. Judge Johnson deserves this Gold and Silver Rays for his contributions to tions. I urge my colleagues to join me in wish- recognition, and I hope my colleagues will join improving the status of Japanese Americans ing Mr.