81R7017 JKB-D
By: Ortiz, Jr. H.R. No. 530
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Nueces County lost a respected judge and community
leader with the passing of the Honorable Carl Eric Lewis on October
25, 2008, at the age of 56; and
WHEREAS, Carl Lewis was born on January 29, 1952, in Corpus
Christi; he distinguished himself as a student and an athlete
during his youth, particularly during his years at Moody High
School; his portrait appears in the Moody High Hall of Fame, and his
name is in the record books for scoring the school's first
touchdown; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from high school, Mr. Lewis turned
down an academic scholarship to Cornell University in order to
attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; a football injury
precluded his admission, and he went on to earn a bachelor's degree
in English from Yale University; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan returned to Corpus Christi and
took a job in the city's human resources department, where he helped
carry out an initiative to offer job training to low-income
individuals; he graduated from The University of Texas School of
Law in 1979 and worked as assistant city attorney, as assistant
county attorney, and as a criminal defense lawyer at the firm of
Tinker, Tor & Lewis before being elected the Nueces County attorney
in 1992; and
WHEREAS, A tireless advocate of justice for children, Mr.
Lewis began serving as judge of County Court at Law No. 5 in 1999 and
oversaw countless cases involving juveniles; he handled situations
of abuse, neglect, gang violence, parental custody, and other very
sensitive issues with his characteristic intuition, wit, and
humanity; originally appointed to the bench, he retained his seat
in a 1999 election, and each of his bids for reelection was a
resounding success; and
WHEREAS, Judge Lewis was a devoted father and took great
pride in his children, Summer and Ben; a man of diverse talents, he
was a founding member of Carl Lewis and the Deadbeats, a blues band
composed mostly of fellow lawyers that performed at benefits and
fund-raisers; Judge Lewis wrote songs, played harmonica, and sang
in the group, and he was elated when his son, Ben, became old enough
to take the bandstand with the Deadbeats; and
WHEREAS, Carl Lewis served the residents of Nueces County
with integrity, compassion, and unwavering devotion to the
well-being of his community and its citizens; although he is deeply
missed, all those fortunate enough to have known him will forever
cherish memories of time spent in his company; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Carl Eric Lewis and
extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
children, Hayden Summer Lewis and Benjamin David Lewis; to his
mother, June Lewis; to his brothers, Victor, James, David, and
Michael Lewis; 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 Carl Lewis.