81R8500 CBE-D
By: Branch H.R. No. 1226
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Jack Pope, a former chief justice of
the Texas Supreme Court who has rendered immeasurable service to
the Lone Star State, is celebrating his 96th birthday on April 18,
2009; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Abilene, Judge Pope knew from the
time he was a boy that he wanted to be a lawyer; as a youth, he also
showed the passion for learning that later marked his distinguished
career; he was a voracious reader who found inspiration in such
figures as the Roman historian Tacitus and orator Cicero; and
WHEREAS, Jack Pope graduated from Abilene High School in 1930
and went on to attend Abilene Christian College, where he majored in
speech, earned letters as a member of the debate and tennis teams,
and served as president of the junior class and the Student
Association; subsequently, at The University of Texas School of
Law, he served as student editor of the Texas Law Review; and
WHEREAS, Licensed by the bar in 1937, Judge Pope moved to
Corpus Christi and joined the firm of his uncle, former state
representative Walter E. Pope; he quickly gained wide-ranging
experience in civil and criminal law and in New Deal-era labor and
transportation regulatory law; and
WHEREAS, Though he was exempt from military service in World
War II because he was the father of two young children, Judge Pope
enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1944 and served stateside for
the next two years; discharged in 1946, he returned to the practice
of law but later that year received an appointment as judge of the
94th District Court, becoming, at the age of 33, the youngest
district judge then serving in Texas; and
WHEREAS, In 1950, Judge Pope won the first of three
consecutive terms on the Court of Civil Appeals in San Antonio;
during his tenure, he issued a landmark ruling concerning the
Spanish roots of Texas water law, establishing a precedent that
continues to guide jurists to the present day; and
WHEREAS, Judge Pope was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in
1964 and helped to draft significant rulings on property rights and
tort reform during his years as an associate justice; in 1982,
Governor Bill Clements appointed him to the post of chief justice,
an office he held until his retirement in 1985, and his tenure in
that post was marked by the elimination of double appeals and by
other important reforms in court administration; and
WHEREAS, Known for the lucidity of his thought and writing,
Judge Pope published more than 1,000 judicial opinions and over 70
law-related articles during the course of his career; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has continued to lead an active
life since stepping down from the bench two decades ago; he has
served as president of the National Council of the Christian
Chronicle, a publication covering news of the Churches of Christ,
and coedited a volume about his ancestor John Berry, a notable Texas
pioneer; and
WHEREAS, Judge Pope credits Abilene Christian University
with providing an essential foundation for his success in life, and
in return for the invaluable lessons he learned there, he has been
one of that school's staunchest supporters; he joined the ACU Board
of Trustees in 1954 and has served on the senior board since 1983;
and
WHEREAS, In tribute to its esteemed graduate, ACU has
conferred on Judge Pope its Outstanding Alumnus of the Year award,
as well as its Change the World award; moreover, since 1989, the
school has bestowed scholarships on outstanding students who are
intending to pursue a career in public service, designating them as
Jack Pope Fellows; and
WHEREAS, Another institution that has benefited from Judge
Pope's active involvement is the State Law Library, which was
created as a separate state agency in 1971 largely through his
efforts; Judge Pope serves as a member emeritus of the Friends of
the State Law Library Board of Directors, and the Friends have
recognized him and another former chief justice, Joe Greenhill,
with the establishment of the Greenhill-Pope Law Book Fund; and
WHEREAS, Jack Pope shared a rewarding marriage with his wife,
Allene, from 1938 until her passing in 2004; their family today
includes two sons, Allen and Jackson Pope, two grandsons, Drew and
Ryan Pope, and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Peyton Locke; and
WHEREAS, Hailed for his intellect and integrity, Judge Pope
has contributed significantly to jurisprudence in the State of
Texas, and it is indeed a privilege to join in wishing him well on
this special day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Jack Pope on the
joyous occasion of his 96th birthday and extend to him profound
appreciation for his exemplary public service; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Pope as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.