H.R. No. 2736
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Franklin
Jones, Jr., of Marshall, who died on December 18, 2008, at the age
of 77; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was born in Marshall on April 24, 1931, to
William Franklin Jones, Sr., and Huldah Harrison Jones; he attended
New Mexico Military Institute and earned his bachelor's degree in
1952 and his law degree in 1954, both from The University of Texas;
and
WHEREAS, Admitted to the Texas Bar in 1953, Mr. Jones
returned to Marshall in 1954 and joined his father at the firm of
Jones & Jones, which was founded by his grandfather in 1891; he
worked there as a civil trial lawyer until the end of his life; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was very active in his profession, serving
as president of his local and regional bar associations; his long
history with the State Bar of Texas included service as director of
the Bar from 1967 to 1970, as vice president from 1970 to 1971, and
as the Bar's 100th president from 1980 to 1981; he served on many of
the organization's committees over the years, including three years
on the Supreme Court Grievance Oversight Committee and 18 years on
the Supreme Court Advisory Committee, and he was a member of the
Administration of Justice Committee and chair of the Group and
Prepaid Legal Services and Disciplinary Review Committees; in
addition, Mr. Jones belonged to the Texas Trial Lawyers
Association, the American Association for Justice, the American
Board of Trial Advocates, and the International Academy of Trial
Lawyers; and
WHEREAS, This committed legal professional was also a trustee
of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism and The
University of Texas Law School Foundation, and he was a Sustaining
Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a Life Fellow of the
American Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the American College of
Trial Lawyers; his many contributions were recognized in 2004, when
he received the Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar
Foundation; moreover, he was named a Texas Super Lawyer for three
consecutive years from 2003 to 2005; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was equally active with the American Bar
Association, serving as a State Bar delegate to the House of
Delegates and as a member of the Governing Council of the Litigation
Section; from 1987 to 1989, he served on the ABA Commission to
Improve the Liability Insurance System; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones participated in civic affairs as well and
served as chair of the Courthouse Preservation Council of Harrison
County; he was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and in
2002, he was recognized by the Marshall Chamber of Commerce as
Citizen of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Franklin Jones dedicated himself to the legal
profession and to his community, and he will be remembered with
admiration and affection by all those whose lives he touched; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Franklin Jones, Jr.,
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
son, Franklin Jones III, and his wife, Ronna; to his daughter, Terry
Bolger, and her husband, Mark; to his grandchildren, Bryan Bolger,
and Savannah, Tye, and Hallie Jones; to his two
great-grandchildren; to his sister, Jerene Winocour; to his nephew,
Jonathan Winocour; to his brother-in-law, George Francisco III, and
his wife, Trebie; and to his other relatives and 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 Franklin
Jones, Jr.
Hughes
Smithee
Phillips
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2736 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 31, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House