Martin Bostetter, Jr. United States Courthouse

Here follows an excerpt from the Fall 2014 edition of the "Franconia Legacies" newsletter published by the Franconia Museum:

IN MEMORIAM:
Martin Van Buren Bostetter, Jr.

Martin Van Buren Bostetter, Jr. passed away on August 8, 2014 at the home of his daughter Lisa Tracy in Alexandria. He was 88. Bostetter spent his teen-age years living with his family on Beulah Road in Franconia. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1944 and four days later received his draft notice and served in the Navy until World War II ended.

Bostetter attended the University of Virginia, earning his B.A. degree in 1950 and his law degree in 1952. He married Joanne Rushworth in 1955 and they raised four children, Martin VB Bostetter III, of Alexandria, David William Bostetter, also of Alexandria, Jonathon Andrew Bostetter of Fort Myers, Florida, and Lisa and husband Tracy of Alexandria. Joanne Bostetter died in 2001. The Bostetters also are survived by six grandchildren.

The United States Courthouse at 200 South Washington Street was named the Martin VB Bostetter Federal Courthouse in 1998 to honor his long career as a Bankruptcy Judge. It is the only Federal Courthouse in the nation named for a Bankruptcy Judge.

He began his legal career in 1952 as an assistant city attorney in Alexandria and was appointed an Associate Judge of the Municipal Court of Alexandria in 1957. He served in that capacity for two years before being named to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He became the Chief Judge in 1985. Bostetter is a past president of the Alexandria Bar Association, the Alexandria Hospital Corporation, the Alexandria Boys Club and various other community organizations in the city.

While a youngster in Franconia, Bostetter lived in a house built by the grandfather and great uncle, respectively, of two current members of the Franconia Museum Board of Directors, Judy Hutchinson and Cary Nalls. The house was located on what is now Beulah Street near its intersection with Burnett Street. Joe Alexander, who has spent his entire life in Franconia, remembers Bostetter was a childhood friend of Lynn Fitzgerald and William (Brother) Schurtz, both of whom became legends in Franconia and enthusiastic early supporters of the Franconia Museum. Bostetter’s brother, James Rice, also a member and business supporter of the Museum, practices law in the Kingstowne-Franconia area.


<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>
<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>

Here follows an excerpt from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Martin V. B. Bostetter Jr. (March 11, 1926 – August 8, 2014) was the Chief Judge of United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and among the longest sitting full-time bankruptcy judges in the United States.

Bostetter was born in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. He attended the University of Virginia, following his tour of duty, where he obtained his B.A. degree in 1950, and his Latin Bachelor of Laws degree in 1952.

Since 1952, Bostetter's entire career took place within a radius of eight blocks in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. He began practicing law in Alexandria in 1952, and was appointed Special Assistant to the City Attorney in 1953, serving in the capacity of Prosecutor. He resigned this post in 1957, to become Associate Judge of the Municipal Court of the City of Alexandria. He served in this position for a two-year period, resigning in 1959, to accept an appointment to the United States Bankruptcy Court.

Bostetter continued to serve as a judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia until his retirement. He was appointed Chief Judge on February 1, 1985.