Earl B. Gilliam/Imperial Avenue Post Office Building
EARL B. GILLIAM/IMPERIAL AVENUE POST OFFICE BUILDING -- (House of Representatives - November 17, 2004)
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5364) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5505 Stevens Way in San Diego, California, as the "Earl B. Gilliam/Imperial Avenue Post Office Building".
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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the sponsor of this legislation.
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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 5364, legislation designating the postal facility in San Diego, California, after the late Earl B. Gilliam. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) on November 16, 2004, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire California State delegation.
Earl B. Gilliam was born in 1931 in New Mexico. He moved to San Diego with his family when he was in the fifth grade. He attended local public schools and graduated from San Diego State University in 1953. He received his law degree from Hastings College of Law in 1957 and served as a deputy district attorney and private practitioner before joining the State bench.
Judge Gilliam served as a municipal court judge in San Diego from 1963 to 1975, and was a superior court judge from 1975 to 1980. In 1980, President Carter appointed Judge Gilliam to the Federal bench. The honorable Judge Gilliam was the first African American to be appointed as a judge in the San Diego municipal, superior, and district courts.
A noted jurist, Judge Gilliam presided over a number of important cases while serving on the Federal bench. He was the trial judge for the Ponzi scheme fraud trials, a trial judge in cases involving immigration, drug trafficking, and health care fraud.
Judge Gilliam was not only a distinguished jurist; he was also very involved in his community. Beginning in 1965, he was recognized by the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce as the Young Man of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Good Guy Award. In 1981, the Boys' Club of San Diego chose the judge as the Golden Man of the Year. In same year, the San Diego Trial Lawyers Association chose him as the Trial Judge of the Year. He was also awarded the NAACP Civil Rights Pioneer Award, and the San Diego Black Lawyers Organization honored his hard work by changing the name of their organization to the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association.
Sadly, Judge Gilliam passed away on January 28, 2001, following a long heart-related illness. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and son, Derrick,
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the legacy of the late Judge Earl B. Gilliam and urge swift passage of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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