Roberto Lange: From MHS Debate to Federal Judge

More proud-papa button-popping for my neighbor Gerry Lange: yesterday's MDL gives his son Roberto the front page to announce President Obama's nomination of the Madison HS graduate and Sioux Falls lawyer to the District Court of South Dakota.

And of all his experiences growing up in our fair city, which one springs to Roberto's—soon to be Hizzoner's—mind when asked for comment on how he got where he is?

Roberto Lange was born on April 22, 1963, in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain, while his parents were teaching there. When he was just over a year old, his parents moved back to Madison, where he was raised through high school.

He was involved in debate at Madison High School. Lange said that being in debate did contribute to his decision to get into law [Zach Anderson, "Lange Nominated to Serve in Federal District Court," Madison Daily Leader, 2009.07.15].

Oh yeah.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: if you're a teenager, and you want to make it big, join your high school debate team. Go to every tournament. Do every event you can. The things you learn and the people you meet will help you climb whatever ladder interests you better than anything else you can do in high school.

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By the way, Gerry tells me that when the FBI came around to do the background checks, they did indeed ask about the nominee's father's support for legislation to legalize medical marijuana. The family line: on certain issues, sometimes, the apple does fall far from the tree. ;-)