H.R. No. 1244 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Charles W. Matthews has been named as the recipient of the 2011 Fellows Award from the Dallas Bar Foundation; and WHEREAS, This award is given annually to a member of the foundation who exemplifies a commitment to professionalism, charitable works, and community service; in addition to being a highly respected leader in the legal field, Mr. Matthews has distinguished himself as an ardent advocate of pro bono legal services; and WHEREAS, Mr. Matthews is a 1967 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and earned his juris doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center in 1970; he joined the Exxon Corporation's litigation section as a trial attorney the following year, became an associate general attorney in 1981, and was named general counsel for the law department in 1992; three years later, he was appointed vice president and general counsel of Exxon, and in that capacity he coordinated the legal aspects of the merger between Exxon and Mobil; and WHEREAS, This skilled attorney has been named a distinguished alumnus of the University of Houston and has received the Alumnus of the Year and Dean's awards from that university's school of law; he was also the recipient of awards from the Dallas Business Journal and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America; and WHEREAS, Mr. Matthews held the first general counsel seat on the Texas Access to Justice Commission, and he has served as a national trustee for the Southwest region of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, director and president of the University of Houston Law Foundation, and director of the International Association of Defense Counsel; moreover, he was the vice chair of the board of the Center for American and International Law and co-chaired the general counsel committee of the National Center for State Courts; and WHEREAS, Active in the American, Texas, Houston, and Dallas Bar Associations, Mr. Matthews participates in many other professional organizations and has served on the Cotton Bowl board of directors; he has also served on the boards of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice and The University of Texas Foundation, and he chaired the UT Chancellor's Council; and WHEREAS, Charles Matthews has set an example of leadership, advocacy, and service to which all may aspire, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Charles W. Matthews on his receipt of the 2011 Fellows Award from the Dallas Bar Foundation and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Matthews as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Branch ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1244 was adopted by the House on April 21, 2011, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House