Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13
CAREER IS HONORED.
OF JAMES R. CATION
Veteran Member of Bar
Completes SO Years
of Service.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


ALEXANDRIA, Va, July IA slen-
der, white-haired man, holding well his
almost four-score years, accompanied by
his wife, this morning again came to
the same court room and faced the
same bar where he was admitted to
practice so years ago and received sig
nal honors from his university and from
his fellow bar associates in token Of
his long and notable career as a
lawyer"
Fifty years ago this morning James
r. Cation was admitted to the Alex
andria bar. Today he received the
degree Of LII. D., causa honoris, from
the National University of Washington
and handsome silver pitcher from
the Alexandria Bar Association. The
doctor of laws degree was conferred
by Charles F. Carusi, chancellor of the
National University, while the silver
pitcher was presented in behalf Of the
local bar by Attorney Carl Budwesky,
chairman of the committee in charge.
Attending to pay tribute to Mr.. Ca
ton were attorneys from this city, Ar
lington, Fairfax and Prince William
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on the bench were Judges william P.
Woolls of the local Corporation Court
and Walter T. Mccarthy of the six
tenth judicial circuit. Representative
r. Walton Moore, retiring member of
Congress from this district, was also
in the court room.
In addition there were also present
members of Mr.. Cations family, in
Guiding his wife and three sons, DR.. w.
. Cation a Cofnr ond 7
dali Cation. The court room was deco
rated for the occasion with palms and
ferns. Following the ceremonies Mr..
Cation was rendered an informal re-
ception by the attorneys present.
Gardner L. Boothe, local attorney and
chairman of the bar association, pre-
sided over the meeting. He said, in part,
This Is a very unusual occasion for
which we are gathered this morning
in that we are met to show our love and
respect to the oldest member of our
appreciation which we feel to him while
he Is still active and member of the
bar. in every way in perfect good health.
This, think, is unusual because we
are prone to pass by the things we
have to say about our friends until after
they have passed beyond. In that par
ticular this is very unusual meeting
and I am very glad to recognize this
morning so many distinguished men,
bers of the bar both from Washing
ton and other parts of the circuit.
Our committee desires to make a
small presentation to Mr.. Cation on be-
half of the members of the bar Of the
City of Alexandria and I Will call on
Mr.. BudweSky, who Is chairman of that
committee. to make that presentation
at this time
Attorney Budwesky then presented the
silver pitcher, suitably inscribed, on be-
half of the Alexandria Bar Association.
Budwesky said that all rejoiced with
Mr.. Cation on his long services as a
member of the bar association, and he
expressed the hope that Mr.. Cation
would be here for many more years to
come and continue to practice his pro-
fession in the courts of this State. He
added that the pitcher was filled with
good wishes. Following the presentation
of the pitcher the association presented
Mrs. Cation with flowers.
Mr.. Cation responded with a few re-
marks in which he thanked all for the
honor bestowed upon him and said that
he would always cherish the memory
Of that honor.
Chancellor Carusi Of National Uni
versity then presented the degree OF
doctor of laws and in doing so said
that it was a particular pleasure for
him that he was permitted to take
part in the exercises honoring Mr.. Ca
ton. The degree, he said, was authorized
by the board of directors of his uni
versity yesterday for distinguished
service" BY his example and precept,
he said, Mr. Cation has won credit and
honor for the university.
Although born at Flager Farm. on
the pike between Warrenton and Gen.
terville, february 6, 1851, Mr.. Cation
has lived in this city almost continu-
ously since he was 4 years old. In 1870
he was made deputy clerk of Corpora
ton Court and the circuit courts and
in July, 1876, he became assistant treas
urer of Alexandria under M. B. Harlow
as treasurer. From 1901 to 1912 he was
a member of the Virgins Assembly.