April 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 63 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S2430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING JAMES C. FOX

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, Judge James C. Fox, who served as a 
Federal District Court Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina 
for more than 35 years, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the 
age of 90.
  Judge Fox was born on November 6, 1928, in Atchison, KS. As a young 
boy, his family moved to Greensboro, NC, where he grew up. Judge Fox 
graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1950 
and married Katharine deRosset Rhett on December 30, 1950. Judge Fox 
served as a corporal in the United States Army Reserve from 1951-1959.
  Judge Fox attended law school at the University of North Carolina 
School of Law, where he graduated in 1957 with highest honors. 
Subsequently, he took a clerkship with Judge Donnell Gilliam who 
predated Judge Fox as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern 
District of North Carolina. Judge Fox entered private practice in 1959 
with the firm Carter & Murchison in New Hanover County, NC, where he 
practiced for 20 years. While in private practice, Judge Fox served as 
the county attorney for New Hanover County for 13 years.
  President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Fox to serve as a U.S. 
District Court Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina on 
September 13, 1982. Judge Fox served the residents of North Carolina 
for more than 35 years. He served as chief judge from 1990 to 1997 and 
assumed senior status on January 31, 2001. Even after assuming senior 
status, Judge Fox maintained a full caseload until he retired in 2017. 
Judge Fox was known as courteous but firm and was widely respected by 
everyone who came into his courtroom.
  In addition to his decades of public service, Judge Fox served as 
director of the law alumni association for the University of North 
Carolina in 1964 and president of the law foundation at the University 
of North Carolina from 1977 to 1979. Judge Fox served on numerous civic 
boards, including the University of North Carolina Board of Visitors, 
the Boy Scouts, the United Way, the Family Service Society, 
Opportunities, Inc., Davis Healthcare, and the Children's Home Society. 
Judge Fox was also an active member of Ducks Unlimited. He loved the 
outdoors and spent significant time and resources on conservation 
management efforts.
  Most importantly, Judge Fox was a devoted husband, father, and 
grandfather. I am grateful to Judge Fox for his service and to his 
family for sharing his time with the residents of North Carolina. He 
will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________