H.R. No. 265
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The citizens of Weatherford and Parker County lost a
greatly admired member of their community with the death of Jack
Borden on January 19, 2011, at the age of 102; and
WHEREAS, Jack Borden was born near Weatherford on August 5,
1908, to John Samuel Borden and Bess Wallis; the son of
sharecroppers, he graduated from Weatherford College in 1931, and
he earned his law degree from The University of Texas in 1936; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, Mr. Borden was elected district
attorney of Parker County; during World War II, he served his nation
as a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for several
years, and he was a charter member of the Parker County Sheriff's
Posse when it was formed in 1947; and
WHEREAS, A practicing attorney for more than three-quarters
of a century, Mr. Borden was one of the leading citizens of
Weatherford; he sat on the board of directors of First National Bank
of Weatherford from 1955 to 1977, and he was the city's mayor from
1960 to 1964; he continued to practice law until two days before his
death, regularly appearing in probate court, where he loved to
share stories with the judge; he was considered to be the oldest
member of the Texas Bar as well as the nation's oldest living former
FBI agent; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding Texan garnered many awards and
honors through the years; he received all three of Weatherford
College's highest awards, including Alumnus of the Year,
Distinguished Alumnus, and the Carlos Hartnett Award; in 2008, he
was recognized as Texas' Outstanding Older Worker of the Year; he
was named Outstanding Citizen of Weatherford in 2005, and five
years later, a street was renamed Jack Borden Way in his honor; and
WHEREAS, An active member of First Baptist Church of
Weatherford since 1936, Mr. Borden served the congregation as a
deacon and chair of the board of deacons; he also taught Sunday
school for 25 years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Borden enjoyed 66 years of marriage to the love
of his life, Edith Jordan Borden, who was renowned for her expertise
in Parker County history; he was also close to his many nieces and
nephews, including John Westhoff, with whom he shared a law
practice for nearly four decades; and
WHEREAS, Known for his humility, intelligence, and honesty,
Jack Borden leaves behind a century-long legacy of loyalty and
service to the community in which he spent his entire life, and he
will forever be remembered by his family, friends, and fellow
citizens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Jack Borden and extend
sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his brother,
C. B. Borden; to his nephews, John Westhoff and his wife, Sue Ann,
Leo W. Tiberghian III, and Eddie Borden; to his nieces, Nancy Borden
O'Neal, Susie Borden Gandy, Traci Layman Brown, Terri Layman Short,
Betty Thompson, and Linda Thompson; to his great-niece, Paige
Westhoff; to his great-nephew, John Trenton Westhoff, his wife,
Amy, and their daughter, Corrine; 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 Jack
Borden.
King of Parker
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 265 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 22, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House