HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommon Council Commemorating the Life of Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Allen GrantAttest
RESOLUTION
NO. 2577 -98
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
March 23, 19 98 .
Clerk
President of Common Council.
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend. Indiana
March 25, 19-28 .
City Clerk
Approved and signed by me March 26 _ 19 98 _.
Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA, COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF SENIOR U.S.DISTRICT JUDGE
ROBERT ALLEN GRANT
MOrttlO, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, notes that Robert A.
Grant was born on July 31, 1905, and moved to South Bend in 1922, graduating from the South
Bend High School in 1923; and
"D bgrt0g, Robert A. Grant graduated from the University of Notre Dame cum laude in
1928 and from the Notre Dame Law School cum laude in 1930; and
'D btrta O, on September 17, 1933, Robert A. Grant married Margaret A. McClaren and
during their more than 64 years of marriage raised two children, Margaret A. "Peggy" Soderberg
of South Bend, and Robert A. Grant, Jr., of Idyllwild, California; and
V1)trtzl8, Judge's Grant's distinguished legal career began in 1930 with the Pyle & Voor
law firm, and included service as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and serving the citizens of the 3rd
District of Indiana from 1939 through 1949 as a member of the United States Congress; and
'DDIi)tr3W8, on August 26, 1957, Robert A. Grant was appointed by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower to the United States District Count, Northern District of Indiana, where he served as
Chief Judge from 1961 to 1972; and Senior Judge from 1972 until his passing on March 2, 1998
at the age of ninety-two (92) years young; and
"Il btrttltz, the Council proudly notes that on September 25, 1992, the Federal Court
House was rededicated as the Robert A. Grant Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
Section I On behalf of all the citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana, the Common
Council publicly commemorates the life of Senior U.S. District Judge Robert A. Grant
for his more than sixty (60) years of selfless contributions to public service in all three (3) branches
of government, and for personifying the highest standards of public service in our community.
Section II. Judge Grant revolutionized the legal system by taking naturalization
ceremonies into the public schools so that students could see and appreciate them, and spearheaded
the process of holding court in the Indiana State Prisons on inmates' rights cases.
Section III. Judge Robert A. Grant was a true gentleman, with a keen sense of humor, a
person who emulated his high moral values, and was a true jurist in the finest sense of the word
who counseled popes, presidents, kings, heads of state, and fellow judges and lawyers, yet
always took time for family and friends.
Section IV. The South Bend Common Council hereby declares the month of May, 1998,
as "Judge Robert A. Grant Month" to be celebrated with the many activities related to Law
Day; and sends its heartfelt wishes to Judge Grant's widow, Margaret A. Grant, and their children,
Peggy Soderberg and Robert A. Grant, Jr., and hope that their lives will continue to be enriched
by the memories of Judge Grant's vision, warmth, compassion and dedication.
Section V. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its a ption by
the Co on Co ur cil and ap roval by the Mayor.
l,
James Aranowski, First District Andrew Ujdgk, -$i istrict