Category Archives: Obituaries

Passing of NAFUSA Founding Member John E. Clark

After a long and great life, NAFUSA founding member and early president John
Eugene Clark died peacefully in San Antonio, Texas, on February 13, 2024. He
was 90. John’s legal career, as a prosecutor, litigator, judge and writer, in a
combination of private law practice and public service, spanned over 50 years
and included serving as the United States Attorney for the Western District of
Texas and as a Justice of the Texas Court of Appeals (4th District).

Clark, a born and bred Texan, earned his LL.B. in 1961 from the University of
Texas School of Law following a two-year tour of active duty with the United
States Army in the Far East and three years working in private industry. He
remained a staunch supporter of the University of Texas throughout his life. In
1969, after practicing law in Austin for eight years, he moved to Washington,
D.C. and worked in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division investigating
and prosecuting federal election fraud and illegal campaign financing cases.

Clark returned to his home state in 1971 and joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office
for the Western District of Texas as First Assistant under then U.S. Attorney
William Sessions and later, upon appointed by President Gerald Ford, as the
United States Attorney. During his tenure as U.S. Attorney 1975-1977, Clark
served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.

Clark engaged in private practice until 1981 when Governor William P.
Clements, Jr. appointed him to the Texas Court of Appeals where he served
until 1983. After his return to private practice, much of his time was devoted
to his qui tam practice under the federal False Claims Act and he gained a
national reputation as an expert in the area. During his time in private practice,
Clark chaired the National Institute of Corrections’ Advisory Board and the
Texas Ethics Commission. In 2013, the San Antonio Bar Association awarded
him its Lifetime Achievement Award, the Joe Frazier Brown Award of
Excellence (see May 31, 2013 NAFUSA newsletter article).

One of the founding members of NAFUSA, Clark was a life member and
served as its third president 1982-1983. He remained devoted to the organization throughout his life, and, in fact, according to his daughter Leslie he was wearing his NAFUSA hat the day before he passed away. NAFUSA owes him a great debt for his
leadership and determination in creating this organization and contributing to its success. On February 20, 2024, a flag was flown over the Department of
Justice in John Clark’s honor and was presented to his widow Carolyn Tevis Clark and family at the funeral services on February 28 by his longtime friend NAFUSA member Ron Ederer. In addition to his devoted wife, Clark is survived by his
children, Karen Cork, Leslie Sartori, John C. Clark and Charles W. Clark,
numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Death of Edward Tarver

Beloved NAFUSA member Edward (Ed) Tarver passed away from
complications of surgery on February 9, 2024, in Augusta, Georgia. He was 64.
His friends and colleagues remember his ready smile, infectious laughter and
his service to justice and to his community.

Ed, who was recognized as a “trailblazing black attorney and civic leader” in a
headline announcing his death in the Augusta Chronicle, led a full and
honorable life of public service. Following graduation from then Augusta
College in 1981, he entered the U.S. Army, serving a tour in South Korea in
1982 and rising to the rank of Captain. Upon his discharge from the Army in
1989, Ed followed his dream to attend law school, earning his law degree in
1991 from the University of Georgia. After graduating, he clerked for U.S.
District Court Judge Dudley Bowen in the Southern District of Georgia.

Ed rose to become a partner in the Augusta, Georgia firm Hull Barrett and
served as a State Senator from Georgia’s 22nd District from 2005-2009. In
2009, President Obama nominated him to become U.S. Attorney for the
Southern District of Georgia, becoming the first African American to hold that
position. He was sworn in by Federal Judge Bowen who praised his former law
clerk as a “man of integrity.” After resigning from the U.S. Attorney position in
2017, he cofounded the firm Enoch Tarver with his law partner Ed Enoch.

An editorial in the Savannah Morning News in 2017 named Ed Tarver “one of
the best U.S. Attorneys in a long line of professional prosecutors who have
held this important post.” In addition to his professional accomplishments. Ed
held leadership positions in community and fraternity activities including,
among many others, the Augusta Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership
Georgia Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and the East Georgia Easter Seals
Society. He was a member of Doyle Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Ed is survived by his wife Dr. Carol Thompson Tarver, a pediatrician in Augusta,
Georgia, daughter Elizabeth Tarver and son Edward Tarver, Jr. and
stepdaughters Riley and Ryan Armant.

In accordance with NAFUSA tradition, a flag was flown in his honor over the Department of Justice on February 12, 2024.

Death of Former U.S. Attorney James L. Wiggins

James Lamar “Jim” Wiggins passed away January 28,2024, at his residence in
Eastman, Georgia (GA). He was 77.

Born and raised in Savannah, GA, Jim attended Auburn University for two years
before enlisting in the U.S. Army. After graduating from flight school at Ft. Rucker,
Alabama, Jim was selected to attend Cobra flight training at Hunter Army Airfield
in Savannah and was a member of the first class to fly the Cobra in combat in Viet
Nam. He served there from November 1967 until November 1968 and was later
awarded the Silver Star for gallantry.

After completing military service, Jim graduated from Armstrong University in
Savannah and later earned his law degree from Mercer University in 1975. He
began his legal career with Smith and Harrington in Eastman, GA before becoming
an Assistant District Attorney and later Public Defender for the Oconee Judicial
Circuit of GA. He was elected District Attorney in 1981, a position he held for 13
years.

Jim was nominated by President Clinton for U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of
GA and served in that position from February 1, 1994, to April 26, 1996. After
leaving the U.S. Attorneys Office, he established the law firm Almand and Wiggins
where he practiced until his retirement in 2014.

Jim was an avid golfer and Auburn fan, and a devoted father, grandfather and
great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kitty Tabb Wiggins, two
daughters, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Southerland Funeral Chapel in Eastman, Georgia on
February 2, 2024.

Death of Emily Sweeney

Sadly, NAFUSA has lost another of its former members. Emily Sweeney, who
served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio from 1993
to 2003, passed away on July 31, 2023.

Emily had a full and distinguished career with the Department of Justice. She
began as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the civil division of the U.S. Attorneys Office
in the Northern District of Ohio after graduating from the Marshall College of Law
in Cleveland. She became the first Asset Forfeiture Chief in that district and also
served as the Appellate Chief. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton, Senate
confirmed and sworn in as U.S. Attorney in 1993.

During her tenure as U.S. Attorney, Emily served as the head of the Management
and Budget Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC).
During her time as chair of that committee, she was proud of being able to help
secure more positions for U.S. Attorney Offices across the country, including her
own, as the need for additional resources grew.

Emily especially enjoyed the management aspects of being U.S. Attorney. She
loved and trusted the people in her office and earned their loyalty and respect.
She worked hard to get them the resources they needed, and, for nearly 20 years,
she regularly lunched with her office family. She was a great boss.

She is survived by her daughter, Margaret, who is an AUSA in the office her
mother once headed, and two much beloved grandchildren, Elliott and Penny.

As is custom, a flag was flown over the Department of Justice in her honor, boxed
with a plaque by NAFUSA, and presented to her daughter. Expressions of
condolence can be sent to Margaret and her family at 373 Belmar Blvd., Avon
Lake, Ohio 44012.

Death of Former U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler

Randolph “Randy” Seiler, former United States Attorney in South Dakota, passed away Monday, April 17th, in Sioux Falls, SD. He was 76. Prior to be named U.S. Attorney, Randy was as Assistant U.S. Attorney in Pierre, SD, beginning in 1995. He believed that being an AUSA was one of the greatest jobs for a lawyer. In 2009 he became First Assistant U.S. Attorney in that office. In March 2015 he was named South Dakota’s acting U.S. Attorney. Then, on February 5, 2016, he was officially appointed by the District Court as South Dakota’s 41st U.S. Attorney, serving until 2017.

Randy served three years in the U.S. Air Force, including a year in Vietnam. He graduated from the University of South Dakota Law School with honors and was chosen to be Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. He ran a strong, but unsuccessful race for SD Attorney General in 2018. In 2019 he was elected Chair of the SD Democratic Party, a position he held at the time of his death. He was hailed by colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, as “a brilliant lawyer, a great U.S. Attorney for SD, a strong
advocate for victims, a dear friend, and most importantly, an amazing father and husband.”

He is survived by his wife, Wanda, and two sons, Christopher and Jeffrey Seiler, and stepdaughters Jennifer Newcomb and Paige Jensen. A visitation will be held on Monday, April 24 at the Pat Duffy Community Youth and Involved Center in Ft. Pierre. A funeral service will be held at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre, SD on Tuesday April 25 at 10:00 am.

Passing of NAFUSA member Donald A. Davis

 

NAFUSA member Donald A. Davis passed away on February 5, 2023. He was 74. Don was appointed by Chief U.S. Judge Paul L. Maloney to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan in October of 2008 and served in that capacity until July 2012.

Don, a graduate of Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan Law School, spent his entire legal career in Grand Rapids, first serving as law clerk for then Chief U.S. District Judge Noel Fox and then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office there. He served as Criminal Chief, First Assistant and Sr. Litigation Counsel before being appointed as the U.S. Attorney. He was a past president of the West Michigan chapter of the Federal Bar Association and chair of the Hillman Trial Advocacy Program. Don was a former Marine and an avid runner who encouraged others to take noon runs. He has been described by a former U.S.Attorney as “a  talented and dedicated attorney with a long history of faithful service to the Western District of Michigan.”

He is survived by his wife, Linda and two children, Erin and Trevor and four granddaughters.

Silbert Flag Presentation

 

NAFUSA members Jay Stephens and George Terwilliger presented the flag flown over the Department of Justice in honor of Earl Silbert to his family members. The longtime NAFUSA member and president 1985-1986 passed away on September 6, 2022. The flag was presented to Earl’s wife, Pat, and his daughter, Leslie, on Friday, December 2, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Death of NAFUSA Board Member Deborah Gilg

NAFUSA Board of Directors Member, Deborah Gilg passed away on November 16, 2022, after a short but courageous battle with colon cancer. She was 70.

Deborah was appointed by President Obama in 2009 as the United States Attorney for
Nebraska, the first woman to hold this position, and served until her retirement from the
Department of Justice in 2017. During her tenure she served on numerous Committees under Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch, including serving as Chair of the  Federal Task Force on Violence Against Native American Women. She was instrumental in that role in securing federal resources for the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault cases against Native American Women.

After leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Deborah became even more active in community engagement in her home state of Nebraska. She founded the organization Fearless, Fierce, and Forward to provide women with empowerment training in the areas of gender pay parity, negotiation skills, surviving domestic violence and professional development. She also served in leadership positions with the Nebraska Jail Standards Board for 24 years, having been appointed by 5 different governors. She joined the adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska College of Law, her alma mater, and later served as adjunct faculty at the Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law at Arizona State University.

Among her many honors and awards were the Nebraska Bar Foundation’s Outstanding Public Service Award and the Nebraska Women’s Bar Association’s Outstanding Contribution to Women in the Law Award. She was a lifetime Nebraska Bar Foundation Fellow and a member of the Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado Bar Associations. She loved to travel, was a talented pianist and devoted mother and grandmother.

According to colleague and former NAFUSA Board member Barry Grissom, in addition to these achievements, Deborah was a backup singer to Kenny Rogers and participated in the Alaska Iditarod on several occasions, riding in portions of the race. She was also the County Coroner for Keich County, Nebraska.

He added that Deborah, who was a strong supporter of breaking glass ceilings, on one occasion, when the selection of a new leader was being discussed at a Midwest HIDTA meeting, pointed out, “I don’t play golf with you, I’m not in the good ole boy club, but if you want someone to lead who has experience, I’m your person.” At that point the U.S. Attorney from Kansas responded, “If that’s a motion, I second it.” The motion passed.

Deborah is survived by her husband of 46 years, Dan; her daughters Colleen and Nicole; her son Greg; and six grandchildren. If you would like to offer condolences, Dan can be reached at gilgd0415@gmail.com or 16607 Harney Street, Omaha NB 68118.

In keeping with NAFUSA tradition, a flag will be flown over the Department of Justice in her honor.

Death of Charles Larson, Sr.

Former NAFUSA member Charles (“Chuck”) W. Larson, Sr. passed away on Thursday November 3, 2022. He was 87. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ellen Larson and two children, Charles W. Larson, Jr. and Carrie Larson Graham.

Chuck was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and reappointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa from 1986 to 1993. In 2001, President George W. Bush reappointed him to the U.S. Attorney position where he served until his retirement in 2006. In 2004 he took a leave of absence from this position to serve as Senior Justice Advisor to the U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq, at the United States Embassy in Baghdad. Chuck was a graduate of the United States Army War College and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He served in the United States Army Reserve for 33 years.

Chuck earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and his Bachelor of Science Degree from Kansas State University. A private service with military honors was held on Friday, November 11, in his hometown of Princeton, Illinois. In keeping with NAFUSA tradition, a flag was flown over the Department of Justice in his honor.