Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to add my voice to those of my colleagues in paying tribute to our distinguished and venerable colleague, the Judge, Senator Howell Heflin.

I've had the great honor to serve--and here on the floor of the Senate, to sit alongside the Judge from Alabama--throughout my entire tenure as a U.S. Senator.

Mr. President, Howell Heflin brought integrity, character, virtue and his folksy Southern humor to a body that is often devoid of such characteristics. What's more, his life has been consistently marked by a constant, single-minded devotion to public service and the love of his country.

During WWII, like many of his contemporaries, he answered the call of his Nation and enlisted in the Marine Corps. In the process, he became a bonafide war hero.

Lt. Howell Heflin joined in the initial assault to liberate the island of Guam from its Japanese occupiers. He was wounded twice and spent considerable time recovering in stateside hospitals. For his bravery, he was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Silver Star.

After the War, Senator Heflin became a trial lawyer in his native Alabama, which began his career-long fascination and devotion to the law. In 1970, he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, where he received the moniker that many know him by in this body--Judge Heflin.

That nickname describes well his tenure here in the U.S. Senate and provides context to the issues he championed as a Senator.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he brought an unparalleled understanding of the judicial process and judicial interpretation to the Senate. Judge Heflin was instrumental in improving our Federal courts, and he worked tirelessly to improve and reform our Nation's judicial system.

Howell Heflin also brought his wealth of legal knowledge to his role as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. While largely a thankless and sometimes tedious position, he never shirked his responsibilities to his colleagues and to the reputation and integrity of the Senate.

Most of all though, Howell Heflin was always looking out for the people of Alabama. Not surprisingly he's been dubbed the `Spokesman for Southern Agriculture' for his unwavering and vigilant support for Alabama's rich agricultural heritage.

While often tagged as a conservative Democrat, he displayed the fervor of many a New Deal Democrat when he came to the Senate floor to speak passionately about issues that directly affected his constituents--from rural electrification, Federal crop insurance, the peanut subsidy program to the space station and civil rights legislation.

But, most of all Howell Heflin brought a sense of quiet dignity and tolerance to this body. When he announced his retirement from the Senate, he spoke with great fervor about the need for a new level of political discourse and conduct in our Nation.

He said: `We must set a new course in this Congress and across the land--a course of moderation, tolerance, responsibility and compassion.' These words epitomized Howell Heflin's service in this body, and in my view they are the essence of what service in the U.S. Senate is all about.

This place will not quite be the same without Howell Heflin's indomitable presence, his deep Southern drawl and and his wonderful sense of humor. They will not easily be replaced.

But for every Member of this body there comes a time to move on and embrace new challenges and new goals. That time has come for the Judge. I wish Howell and his wife `Mike' best wishes in their retirement and all their future endeavors.

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