WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. and U.S. Senator
David Vitter introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to designate the Shreveport
Federal Building as the “Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States
Courthouse.”
Read the bill here.
Watch Dr. Cassidy’s speech honoring Judge Stagg on the Senate Floor here and see the transcript below:
“Mr. President, I rise today in support of designating the Shreveport Federal Building as the ‘Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States Courthouse.’
“The Honorable Thomas ‘Tom’ Eaton Stagg Jr. of Shreveport, who passed away last June, was an inspirational figure. He graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport and joined the United States Army preparing for WWII. He rose to the rank of Captain, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge, a Bronze Star for Valor, another Bronze Star for meritorious service, the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster.
“At one point he was saved from death when a German bullet was stopped by a Bible he carried in his pocket. It is as if he was fated to live.
“After World War II, Tom attended Cambridge and LSU Law Center and then served in private practice.
“Tom’s reputation was described as a combination of ‘intelligence, spirit, patriotism, wisdom and wit’ and resulted in his nomination to serve on federal bench for the Western District of Louisiana in 1974. He was named chief judge in 1984, a position he held until 1991.
“Many testimonials, one of which a close colleague said of Judge Stagg, ‘Without a doubt he was the finest trial judge I had ever met. Without ever knowing it, he had served as my silent mentor, a role model. … To have served with Judge Tom Stagg on the federal bench for 12 years was a singular honor. A giant has fallen. … this remarkable man left a legacy of love of family, of duty and honor and love of this nation, its judicial system and the rule of law. Tom Stagg loved being a federal judge. We will all miss him.’
“Judge Stagg assumed senior status on the court in 1992, but he didn’t retire, he maintained a full caseload, serving on federal circuit courts of appeal panels.
“Judge Stagg loved being a judge, but his love for his job always came second after his love for his family. Judge Stagg married the former Mary Margaret O’Brien in 1946 and is survived by her and their two grown daughters, Julie and Margaret Mary.
“Thank you, I yield back.”