H.R. No. 1276
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Across this state and nation, people who wage the
fight for social justice are mourning the loss of Frederick Martin
Baron of Dallas, who passed away on October 30, 2008, at the age of
61; and
WHEREAS, Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1947, Mr. Baron moved
to Smithville when he was 15; an outstanding student and football
star in high school, he went on to attend The University of Texas at
Austin, where he earned a B.A. in 1968 and a J.D. in 1971; and
WHEREAS, Inspired by consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Mr. Baron
went to work after law school at the Dallas-based firm of Mullinax,
Wells, Mauzy & Baab, which represented labor unions and union
workers; in 1974, he filed a major case concerning asbestos
exposure at an East Texas plant, a suit that eventually resulted in
an award of $20 million and that helped establish his reputation as
an able and tenacious attorney; Mr. Baron formed his own firm, now
known as Baron & Budd, in 1977 to represent victims of occupational
diseases and industrial pollution; over the course of a more than
30-year career, his formidable skills and passionate engagement
would make him a national leader in the field of asbestos and other
toxic-tort litigation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Baron's commitment to the cause of worker and
consumer safety was evident, as well, in his professional
affiliations; he cofounded Trial Lawyers for Public Justice in 1982
and served as president of that group from 1997 to 1998; other
organizations to benefit from his involvement were the Association
of Trial Lawyers of America, which he served as president, and the
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, of which he was a
founding board member; in addition, he was a staunch supporter of
Public Citizen and People for the American Way; and
WHEREAS, Fred Baron stepped down from his firm in December
2002 to focus his efforts on politics and charitable causes; he
played a major role in raising funds for the Kerry/Edwards ticket in
2004, and he served as national finance chair for John Edwards in
both of his runs for the presidency; in 2005, Mr. Baron founded the
Texas Democratic Trust, which has greatly assisted the state's
Democratic Party; and
WHEREAS, Together with his wife, Lisa Blue-Baron, Fred Baron
created the Baron and Blue Foundation, which works with area
organizations to eliminate homelessness and address the needs of
the underserved; the couple also gave over the first floor of their
home to religious, philanthropic, and cultural organizations,
welcoming their fund-raisers and other events; the depth of Mr.
Baron's empathy for those in distress was demonstrated yet again in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when he spent many days at Reunion
Arena taking food and other supplies to the refugees there,
listening to their stories, and helping them in whatever way he
could; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of myriad accolades, this
distinguished Texan was named a "Legal Legend" by Texas Lawyer,
designated one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S." by
the National Law Journal, and presented with an Outstanding Service
Award by the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law at
The University of Texas School of Law; in 2001, his alma mater
established the Frederick M. Baron Chair in Law in recognition of
his contributions to the school and his remarkable accomplishments;
and
WHEREAS, The impact of Fred Baron's life extended far and
wide; he fought relentlessly for the safety of ordinary citizens,
gave abundantly of his resources in behalf of others, and sought to
ensure that government would also serve those less fortunate, and
he will indeed be missed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Frederick Martin
Baron and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to
his wife, Lisa Blue-Baron; to his children, Andrew Baron, Courtney
Baron and her husband, Brad Singer, and Alessandra, Caroline, and
Nathalie Baron; to his granddaughter, Liza; to his brother, Robert
Baron, and his sister, Joan Baron; and to his other relatives and
many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Frederick
Martin Baron.
Hodge
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. 1276 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 14, 2009.
______________________________
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