[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 19, 2023)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E334] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-19
Chamber: EXTENSIONS
Mr. TURNER: I want to congratulate Merle Wilberding, a close friend from my Congressional district, who is celebrating 50 years as an attorney and partner at the law firm Coolidge Wall in Dayton, Ohio. Founded in 1853, Coolidge Wall is one of the oldest and most respected law firms in Ohio. Merle moved to Dayton after his discharge from the military, and officially joined the firm on June 25, 1973. The values of hard work, integrity, and service to others have guided Merle throughout his long and distinguished career in the legal profession. Merle earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1969. After practicing law for 54 years, he remains at the very top of his profession, having earned the distinction of being named the 2023 ``Lawyer of the Year'' in Corporate Law for all of Dayton by the publication Best Lawyers. He is an active community leader and volunteer, a prolific free-lance writer, the author of seven books and numerous articles published in national law reviews, and has worked on multiple high-profile cases that gained national attention. During the Vietnam War, Merle served four years as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in Washington, D.C. As a 27-year-old U.S. Army lawyer, he represented the government in briefing and arguing the appeal of Lt. William Calley's court martial for his role in the My Lai Massacre and the Presidio Mutiny case, a non-violent anti-war demonstration at the Presidio Army Base in San Francisco. He represented the Army in 800 appeals and argued 100 cases. For his honorable service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. In 2008, a servicemember from our community, Maria Lauterbach, was murdered by a fellow marine after she reported a sexual assault. Merle offered to represent the Lauterbach family on a pro bono basis, and began his advocacy for victims of sexual assault in the military. Merle's work on this case resulted in multiple appearances on national news programs and testimony before the U.S. Congress. I teamed with Merle to seek justice for the Lauterbach family by pushing for changes in the Uniform Code of Military Justice and enacting new laws to combat sexual assault in the military, empower sexual assault victims, and establish a safer environment for all who serve in our Armed Forces. Merle's wisdom, compassion, and knowledge of the law has repeatedly earned him the respect of his peers. His name is routinely included in the annual lists of the Top 5 percent of Lawyers in the State of Ohio, and the Best Lawyers in America. He was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, for his commitment to the values of service and ethical leadership that the University seeks to instill in its students. In both his personal and professional life, Merle Wilberding has set an excellent example for all of us who work to serve our communities and our nation. I have had the privilege of knowing Merle for many years, and I am proud to call him my friend. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Merle Wilberding as he celebrates this significant milestone in his legal career.