H.R. No. 887
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The community of Temple and the State of Texas lost a
revered citizen with the passing of Jamie Hager Clements on
February 26, 2009, at the age of 78; and
WHEREAS, A native of Crockett, Mr. Clements was born on
December 9, 1930; he graduated as valedictorian from Crockett High
School in 1948, received his bachelor's degree with honors from The
University of Texas in 1952, and completed his law degree at UT in
1955; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clements was still in law school when he sought
and won election to the Texas House of Representatives; he served
three terms, from 1953 to 1957 and again from 1959 to 1960; while a
member of the legislature, he supported civil rights for African
Americans and opposed McCarthyism; and
WHEREAS, Following a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, from
1956 to 1958, Mr. Clements established a law practice in McAllen; he
moved to Temple in 1960 to join the development office of Scott &
White Hospital, and he took charge of the fund drive to build a more
modern facility; in 1962, he was named the hospital's general
counsel, a post he held until 1998; and
WHEREAS, During his nearly four decades with Scott & White,
Mr. Clements played an integral role in its development into the
largest multidisciplinary health care system in Texas; his work
paved the way for the creation of the hospital's partnership with
The Texas A&M University College of Medicine, the institution of
the Scott & White Health Plan, and the establishment of the
hospital's system of regional clinics; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, Mr. Clements became a national
leader in the field of health care law; he served as a professor of
medical jurisprudence and as a cofounder and president of the
American Health Lawyers Association; and
WHEREAS, Jamie Clements also devoted untold hours to the city
of Temple, serving on numerous civic and governmental bodies and
holding the office of mayor from 1970 to 1974; he was equally active
at the state level, where his appointments included the
chairmanship of the Texas Board of Public Welfare and membership on
the Texas Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; in the
private sector, his seasoned leadership benefited such groups as
the Texas Municipal League and the Presbyterian Children's Home and
Service Agency of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Staunchly loyal to his alma mater in deed as well as
in spirit, he was honored as a University of Texas Distinguished
Alumnus in 1999; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clements was the devoted husband of Ann Clements
and the proud father of three children; and
WHEREAS, The impact of this distinguished Texan's endeavors
extended far and wide, and this state is the better for his life and
service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jamie Hager
Clements and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:
to his wife of 47 years, Ann Trigg Clements; to his son, Jamie
Clements, Jr., and his wife, Diana; to his daughters, Susan Negley
and Cindy Voelter and her husband, Chuck; to his grandchildren,
William, Ashley, Jamie, Madison, Suzanne, Austen, Noe, Carolina,
Hannah, Samuel, and Rhett; 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 Jamie Hager
Clements.
Sheffield
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 887 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 26, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House