Service to his country as a Marine captain demonstrated his love for country, but it also caused him to develop, during his service time, a form of hepatitis that damaged his liver and which ultimately resulted in his having to undergo a liver transplant operation. There were high hopes for the success of the operation. He seemed to be doing well when there occurred a sudden turn for the worst, and Roy was gone.

After nearly 18 years of service to Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox Counties, Roy had made plans to retire from his post as district attorney and to commence the practice of law with his brother Robert W. `Robin' Johnson II in his beloved hometown of Marion. And they also have law offices in Birmingham and Washington, DC.

I am pleased today, Mr. President, that his brother Robin is here today to hear these remarks about my good friend, his brother, Roy Johnson. As his long-time chief assistant, Ed Greene said, `Everything seemed so bright for him.'

His death was truly a shock to me and to many. Roy had great pride in his circuit and the people in it. He loved them deeply. He worked tirelessly on their behalf. The fourth judicial circuit is located in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt region--a beautiful area of the State in which the people know not only their neighbors, but they know the grandparents and grandchildren of their neighbors.

E.T. Rolison, Jr., supervisory U.S. attorney in Mobile, AL, noted, `Roy did as much for law enforcement coordination as anyone I have [ever] seen in my 25 years with this office.' And this was a high compliment from Mr. Rolison, who served for many years in the U.S. attorney's office and worked hard to further coordination between local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Barron Lankster, himself a district attorney in nearby Marengo County, and an African American, noted that he had commenced his career in Roy's office. Mr. Lankster said, `He fully integrated his office when he took over and treated everyone fairly and equitably.'

A graduate of Tulane University and the University of Alabama School of Law, Roy was prepared intellectually and professionally for the broad demands of his work. He loved history and he loved the wonderful Antebellum home in which he lived. The home was located right on the parade grounds at Marion Military Institute, an excellent military school. MMI, along with Judson College, have played a key role in making the town of Marion an extraordinary academic and intellectual community.

Roy's love and support for Marion Military Institute was deep and longstanding. Certainly, his career in the U.S. Marines helped shape his belief that we must have a strong national defense. I remember with delight the occasion when Roy's fellow marine, Col. Ollie North, was under great attack in Washington. This was before Colonel North's rebuttal that turned the tables on his accusers a bit. But Roy spoke out for him then. He served with him in the Marines, and he spoke up at a time of great unpopularity. I congratulated him later when it turned out that Colonel North had turned the tables a bit on that circumstance. He stood by his friends. He was indeed forever true.

During the mid-1980s, we worked together on the prosecution of three individuals for voter fraud in Perry County. The prosecution caused a great deal of furor locally and nationally. During that time I came to appreciate Roy's cool head, his innate decency, his legal skills, and his character.

Despite political pressure, this marine never wavered. He stood firm for what he believed to be right, and did so in a fair and just manner. The bond which we developed in that case was never broken.

There is much more that can be said about this educated, caring, fair, strong, loyal and kind son of the South. Certainly he was big in stature and big in spirit.

I am confident that if we were able to accomplish a fully accurate analysis of the many contributions he made to his judicial circuit and his region, the most significant would be his skill and determination during a period of rapid social change. He helped provide equal justice to all and conducted himself and his office in a manner that reflected fairness to everyone.

His leadership and his strength of character provided a framework which allowed for the development of harmonious relations between the races. Sometimes there would be periods of good feeling and sometimes there would be periods of tension and conflict. But whatever the situation, Roy stood firm and strong for justice and contributed mightily to the historic changes that have taken place in this region.

Roy loved Marion. He loved the Black Belt and the people who lived there and the people he represented. I know he is pleased that his strong and effective chief deputy, Ed Greene, in whom he placed such trust over the years, has been appointed to complete his term. I have the greatest respect for Ed's ability and have enjoyed working with him over the years, and I compliment Governor Fob James for his wise appointment.

I have been honored to know Roy Johnson. He was a superior public servant, an outstanding prosecutor. And I thank the Chair for allowing me to place these remarks upon the record and to express my sincerest sympathy to his fine family for the great loss they have suffered.

Thank you, Mr. President.