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Congressman Cohen Speaks in Favor and Votes to Pass Bill Renaming Memphis Federal Courthouse for Judge Odell Horton

November 4, 2021

In a proud moment for Memphis, says “He has long deserved this individual distinction”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for his bill to rename the Memphis Federal Building for the late federal Judge Odell Horton. Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure and Judiciary Committees, previously passed a bill adding Judge Horton's name to the Downtown federal building and courthouse. The measure that passed the House today with the support of the entire Tennessee Congressional delegation, will name the building exclusively for Judge Horton and remove the name of the late Congressman Clifford Davis. The measure now moves to the Senate for its consideration.

The House vote on passage today was 422 to 2.

On Wednesday, Congressman Cohen spoke in favor of the measure from the House floor. In those remarks, Congressman Cohen said:

"One of my first acts as a Congressman, the first bill I passed, was the bill to add Judge Horton's name to the federal building and to call it the Clifford Davis – Odell Horton Federal Building. I had initially hoped to simply rename the building for Judge Horton but the political will to do that was not present at that time. Now here we are in 2021 and the political will is present, including the family of the late Clifford David who we communicated with and they suggested that it should be renamed. The family said, ‘We are proud of Cliff Davis' many contributions to Memphis but his membership in the Klan and support for Jim Crow cannot be excused.' … I believe it's time to assure that all Memphis will look with pride and respect at their federal building and have it named for this great jurist who served in that federal building…

"He was a man of honor who dedicated his life to public service for the betterment of West Tennessee. He broke down racial barriers and served the judicial system well. He has long deserved this individual distinction."

See the Congressman's entire remarks here.

During debate on the measure Wednesday, Representatives Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, and Michael Guest, R-Mississippi, also urged passage.

Judge Horton left a legacy as the first Black federal judge in the Western District of Tennessee appointed since Reconstruction.

He also served as chief judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, the first African American member of Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb's city administration as the head of health and hospitals, and the president of LeMoyne-Owen College.

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