COMMENDING U.S. ATTORNEY PETE DUNBAR (Senate - November 21, 1989)
 

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Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, at the end of this year, Montanans will lose the service of one of our most respected public officials. On December 30, Byron H. `Pete' Dunbar will retire from his position as U.S. attorney for the District of Montana.

Pete's long career in public service began with his entry into the U.S. merchant marine in World War II. In 1952, he began a 27-year career with the FBI.

During his years with the FBI, he was assigned to several cities, including Dallas, St. Louis, New York, Oklahoma City, Washington, DC, and Butte, MT. He spent 5 years working on Soviet espionage cases and also worked on cases involving organized crime, bank robbery, kidnapping, and extortion. He was the principal legal advisor to the FBI for 10 years, and taught criminal law and enforcement within the criminal justice system.

After leaving the FBI in 1979, Pete was a prosecuting attorney for Gallatin County and in 1980 was a candidate for the Montana Supreme Court.

In 1982, he was appointed to be the U.S. attorney for Montana. During his tenure, he has faced an unprecendented increase in drug-related crime. In addition, the large expanse of Federal land within the State and the international border have all contributed to his workload.

Despite these challenges, Pete has done an exceptional job. I've received letters from law enforcement officials across the State in support of his work. His reputation for excellence is national in scope and completely deserved.

Montana is losing one of the most effective U.S. attorneys we've had. I know I share the feelings of Montana's law enforcement community and all Montanans when I wish him well in the next stage of his career.

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