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.
Branch
Straus Gattis Menendez Straus Gattis Menendez
Straus Gattis Menendez
Allen Geren Merritt Allen Geren Merritt
Allen Geren Merritt
Alonzo Giddings Miklos Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anderson Guillen Moody Anderson Guillen Moody
Anderson Guillen Moody
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Berman Hamilton Naishtat Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Bohac Hancock Oliveira Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bonnen Harless Orr Bonnen Harless Orr
Bonnen Harless Orr
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr. Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Burnam Hernandez Patrick Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Button Herrero Paxton Button Herrero Paxton
Button Herrero Paxton
Callegari Hilderbran Pea Callegari Hilderbran Pea
Callegari Hilderbran Pea
Castro Hochberg Phillips Castro Hochberg Phillips
Castro Hochberg Phillips
Chavez Hodge Pickett Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chisum Homer Pierson Chisum Homer Pierson
Chisum Homer Pierson
Christian Hopson Pitts Christian Hopson Pitts
Christian Hopson Pitts
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Cook Hughes Riddle Cook Hughes Riddle
Cook Hughes Riddle
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Crabb Isett Ritter Crabb Isett Ritter
Crabb Isett Ritter
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Creighton Jones Rose Creighton Jones Rose
Creighton Jones Rose
Crownover Keffer Sheffield Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Darby Kent Shelton Darby Kent Shelton
Darby Kent Shelton
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Edwards Legler Thibaut Edwards Legler Thibaut
Edwards Legler Thibaut
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eissler Lewis Truitt Eissler Lewis Truitt
Eissler Lewis Truitt
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
England Madden Turner of Harris England Madden Turner of Harris
England Madden Turner of Harris
Farabee Maldonado Vaught Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Marquez Villarreal Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Fletcher Martinez Vo Fletcher Martinez Vo
Fletcher Martinez Vo
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flynn McCall Weber Flynn McCall Weber
Flynn McCall Weber
Frost McClendon Woolley Frost McClendon Woolley
Frost McClendon Woolley
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1226 was adopted by the House on April
20, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus Gattis Menendez
Allen Geren Merritt
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anderson Guillen Moody
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bonnen Harless Orr
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Button Herrero Paxton
Callegari Hilderbran Pea
Castro Hochberg Phillips
Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chisum Homer Pierson
Christian Hopson Pitts
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Cook Hughes Riddle
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Crabb Isett Ritter
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Creighton Jones Rose
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Darby Kent Shelton
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Edwards Legler Thibaut
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eissler Lewis Truitt
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
England Madden Turner of Harris
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Fletcher Martinez Vo
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flynn McCall Weber
Frost McClendon Woolley
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas