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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING CLIFFORD SPIEGELMAN, PH.D.
______
HON. BILL FLORES
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Mr. FLORES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy
of Dr. Clifford Spiegelman of College Station, Texas, who passed away
on 14 May 2020.
Dr. Spiegelman, known as Cliff to his family and friends, was born on
15 May 1948 in Long Island, New York, to Charlie and Doris Spiegelman.
In school, he was an accomplished athlete and won numerous awards for
track and other sports. He also excelled in the classroom and pursued a
career in academics, receiving his bachelor of science from the State
University of New York at Buffalo in 1970, his master's degree in
managerial economics from Northwestern University in 1973, and his
Ph.D. in statistics and applied mathematics from Northwestern
University in 1976.
Cliff started his career with the agency now known as the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, commonly called NIST. He later
became a tenured professor at the Department of Statistics at Texas A&M
University.
Serving on the faculty at Texas A&M for over 30 years, Cliff became
renowned in his field and a highly sought-after expert in the
application of statistical expertise to forensic science, chemistry,
and medicine. In 2009, he was named a distinguished professor of
statistics, the university's highest rank for faculty. His
contributions to the field of statistics were further recognized in his
appointment as a regents professor in 2019.
Cliff was particularly known for his helpful nature and deep
commitment to justice and fairness in the criminal justice system. He
was nationally recognized for his research on statistical
interpretation of criminal evidence, such as bullet fragment analysis
and firearm tool marks.
He was a fierce advocate of accuracy by investigators to prevent
false convictions. He further expanded his advocacy through his work
with the Innocence Project, testifying pro bona in evidentiary
admissibility hearings and providing research that played critical
roles in overturning false convictions of innocent individuals.
His commitment to justice extended outside of the courtroom as well.
He served on the Texas Forensic Science Commission as well as the Texas
Holocaust and Genocide Commission, where he worked to ensure that the
death statistics of the Holocaust and other genocides are reliably
reported.
Dr. Spiegelman leaves a professional legacy that is unmatched in his
field. However, his proudest accomplishments were outside of the
workplace.
Cliff married Dr. Katherine Bretzlaff in 1990, a fellow professor at
Texas A&M. Together, they raised two daughters, Lindsey and Abigail,
who each carry their parents' commitments to academic excellence,
strong work ethic, and kindness to those around them.
In the tributes written by the many individuals and organizations
positively impacted by Cliffs work, nearly all spoke of Cliffs pride in
his family and his frequent excitement to share the achievements of his
daughters.
Madam Speaker, Dr. Clifford Spiegelman's life was defined by his
outstanding accomplishments as a professor, mentor, and expert in
statistics, as well as his commitment to his family and friends. He
will be forever remembered for his strong principles and commitment to
excellence and as a devoted husband, father, and friend.
My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to
the Spiegelman family. I have requested the United States flag be flown
over our Nation's Capitol to honor the life, legacy, and service of Dr.
Clifford Spiegelman.
____________________