[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 1848] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING HUGH GOODWIN ______ HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Hugh Goodwin upon being honored with the ``Trail Blazers Award'' by the African American Museum. Mr. Goodwin will be honored at the African American History Month Celebration and Banquet on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 in Fresno, California. Mr. Hugh Wesley Goodwin, Sr. was born on May 6, 1921 to James and Anna Goodwin. He was the youngest of seven children. The family settled in Steelton, Pennsylvania where his father worked both as a steel worker and a Baptist minister. Mr. Goodwin served in the military during World War II. Upon his discharge he graduated from Harvard Law School and moved to California to practice law. Mr. Goodwin was the first African American lawyer and judge in Fresno County. He opened his law practice in Fresno during the early 1950's. In 1957 Mr. Goodwin married Frances Jones. Together they raised four children; Hugh, Paul, Anna and Tom. Over the next fifty years, Mr. Goodwin continuously advocated for disadvantaged people and challenged the racial boundaries at the time. Through his perseverance and advocacy, he earned a wide range of respect from his peers, as well as members of the community. Mr. Goodwin was very active in the community. He was a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission Legal Council and volunteered at the Fresno Rescue Mission. Mr. Goodwin served as President of the Fresno Black Caucus and President of the West Fresno Little League. After the little league games, Mr. Goodwin would take the scores and highlights to The Fresno Bee to be published in the paper the next day. He was a devout Christian; he attended Second Baptist Church and served many years as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. In 1976, Mr. Goodwin was appointed to the municipal court bench in Fresno County. While serving on the bench, he gained national attention when he sentenced convicted defendants to church rather than serving jail time or paying fines. Throughout the controversy, he remained committed to his beliefs. Mr. Goodwin returned to private practice in 1978 and remained practicing until 1996. Mr. Goodwin passed away in 2004. Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor Hugh Goodwin. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and wishing the best for his family. ____________________