May 21, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E935 restoration. He initiated the Sacramento win- will also serve as a scholarship dinner in his SUPPORTING H.R. 59 ter-run salmon broodstock program and the honor on May 23, 1998 in Toledo. Sacramento spring-run chinook working group. A product of the Toledo Public Schools him- HON. SAM JOHNSON He was a critical voice in the debate leading self, Ben began his career in 1968 at Wood- OF TEXAS to the enactment of the Central Valley Project ward High School, where he taught general IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Improvement Act, rallying the fishing industry science and coached freshman boys basket- Thursday, May 21, 1998 to support our efforts to provide water for fish and wildlife. ball. Ben truly discovered his passion as a Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, He was active in coho salmon recovery ef- teacher and coach at Toledo's Scott High I rise today in support of H.R. 59, the National forts, and was a member of the Ecosystem School in 1969, where he remained until re- Right To Work Act. This bill would repeal Roundtable dealing with funding proposals for tirement. While at Scott, he taught health edu- those sections of Federal law which allow big the Bay-Delta. He was a long-time member of cation, became Chair of the Physical Edu- labor to force hard-working Americans to pay the Commercial Salmon Stamp Committee cation Department, and coached the junior union dues under the threat of losing their and the California Advisory Committee on varsity and varsity boys basketball teams. Dur- jobs. Salmon and Steelhead Trout. He also served ing his seventeen years as head coach, his This is un-American. Yet, it happens to as president of the Pacific Coast Federation of teams have won an amazing ten City Cham- thousands of men and women every single Fishermen's Association (PCFFA) for 9 years. pionships, and last year, the Scott Bulldogs month of the year. Union bosses take the Through it all he fought tirelessly for the indus- won the Ohio State Championship. No doubt, hard-earned money of workers who have no try and the restoration of the fish they depend the Bulldogs with this victory expressed their legal say in the matter. Mr. Speaker, it was Congress who created on. appreciation to him for his lifelong dedication this problem. We gave big labor the privilege Nat gave up fishing a few years ago to work to them. Eight of the teams under his leader- full-time on fish and fish habitat conservation and authority to take this money away, by tak- ship have ranked among the top ten Ohio ing away the worker's freedom to choose as the Habitat Director for PCFFA. In this role, AAA teams. His accomplishments earned Ben he was instrumental in the developing and whether or not to pay union dues. the designation of AAA Boys Basketball Congress must now give that freedom back building support for new habitat protection Coach of the Year. measures that were included in the most re- to American workers. H.R. 59 empowers Americans and gives cent reauthorization of the Magnuson Act. He Ben's success as a basketball coach has them the choice that never should have been was a current member of the Pacific Fishery not been simply about fostering technical skills taken from them in the first place. Management Council, and prior to be ap- and teamwork on the basketball court. States I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 59, the pointed to the Council he served as chairman a noted local sportscaster, ``While building the National Right To Work Act. of their Salmon Advisory panel. A proponent area's top basketball program at Scott, Ben f for protecting marine areas, he was to be the has not let his players forget why they are in Pacific Council's representative on the upcom- school. He not only insists on athletic achieve- INTRODUCTION OF THE JUDICIAL ing Year of the Ocean Conference in Monte- ment but academic efforts as well.'' Indeed, 90 ANTI-NEPOTISM ACT rey. percent of his players have gone on to col- Nat Bingham was an independent thinker, a lege! Truly a mentor to his players, Ben puts HON. JENNIFER DUNN strong moral voice, and a great conservation- his philosophy into action, explaining ``Most of OF WASHINGTON ist who looked at the long term, not just the our boys come from broken homes. I spend IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES present. He would take on large industryÐ more time with them than the typical coach. I Thursday, May 21, 1998 whether it was oil, timber, or agribusinessÐ have a year-round relationship with them. We the government, the environmental commu- try to keep basketball in perspective. Aca- Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, today I am intro- nity, or even his own fishing industry when he demic achievement and personality improve- ducing legislation to preserve the institutional felt they were wrong. He approached these ment are the most important things.'' integrity of the federal courts. This bill will clar- challenges as a consensus builder not an ad- ify the 1922 anti-nepotism law (section 458 of versary, however, trying to build bridges be- Ben also founded the City of Toledo Recre- Title 28 of the United States Code) which pro- tween opposing interests for the good of the ation Department's Annual Early Bird Basket- hibits the appointment or employment in any resources and the people that depend on ball Clinic, serving over 600 children in each court of individuals who are related within the them. of the 8 years he directed the program. He degree of first cousin to any justice or judge There are some people who have been so has directed various recreation and youth of- of that court. important and have been doing the work for fices in both Toledo and Erie, Pennsylvania. Currently, there is disagreement about so long in their community that their value to Finally, he worked with the University of Tole- whether this anti-nepotism law applies simply the people, the community and the resource is do's Summer Sports Program for 13 years, to judges' personnel decisions or whether it in- impossible to measure. At the same time, they from 1970 to 1983. cludes presidential appointments to judicial of- have been fighting the fight for so long, you Ben Williams is a graduate of Bowling fices in federal courts. I believe that the law must apply to both if can't remember what it was like before they Green State University, where he earned both came along. Nat Bingham was one of those courts are to remain unbiased. It is the duty of his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He Congress to ensure that the credibility of our people. His contributions to the protection of has also worked toward his doctorate at Gan- the resource and our environment were im- judicial branch is not compromised. That is non College in Pennsylvania, George Wash- measurable, and the thought of fighting the why I am introducing the Judicial Anti-nepo- ington University, and Sir George William's good fight without him is almost impossible to tism Act. This legislation clarifies the intent of University in Montreal. He holds a teaching imagine. We will continue to fight however, to the original law to preclude the appointment of award from Phi Beta Kappa, and has received save the salmon and their habitat. Nat would a judge to a court if that person is related expect no less, and it is an appropriate way to many other awards for his exemplary teaching within the degree of first cousin to any judge, honor his memory. and service to our community. including a judge retired in senior status, of f In addition to an extraordinarily successful that same court. teaching and coaching career, Ben is happily If the law were not to apply to the familial TRIBUTE TO BEN WILLIAMS married to Arielle. They are the proud and ear- relationship of judges, close family members nest parents of Robert, Kristie, and Leah. would be able to serve concurrently on the HON. MARCY KAPTUR same court, causing litigants to lose con- Perhaps Ben Williams' proudest profes- fidence in a system clearly designed to be ob- OF OHIO sional moment came when Scott High School IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES jective and impartial. We simply cannot afford last year renamed its field house in his honor. to let this happen. We must assure that fed- Thursday, May 21, 1998 In accepting the tribute, Ben spoke of his eral judges are independent from any outside Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to State Championship team. ``This close unit influence in order for their decisions to be recognize the outstanding career of an educa- has shown what discipline, hard work, and completely impartial and based only on the tor in our community. A lifelong educator with caring can do for all who wish to beat the laws and facts of the cases. the Toledo Public School system, Ben Wil- odds.'' Indeed these stand as fitting words by I encourage my colleagues to support this liams will be feted at a retirement event that which we all might live. bill and help uphold the just character and E936 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks May 21, 1998 composition of one of our most revered institu- members of Southern High School's mock trial the organization for every mortgage loan tions. team for their outstanding performance in the made by the bank.