H.R. No. 1445
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Judge W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., is
beginning his service as the founding dean of the College of Law of
the University of North Texas System in May 2013 to prepare for the
program's opening in the fall of 2014; and
WHEREAS, Judge Furgeson is the senior United States district
judge in the Northern District of Texas and has been a federal judge
for more than 18 years; in addition, he serves as a panel judge on
the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation; previously, this
distinguished Texan served in the El Paso, Midland-Odessa, and San
Antonio Divisions of the Western District and was a practicing
lawyer for 24 years with the Kemp, Smith, Duncan & Hammond Law Firm
in El Paso; and
WHEREAS, Active in his professional community, Judge
Furgeson is president of the Federal Judges Association, a member
of the Judicial Branch Committee of the Judicial Conference of the
United States, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers,
and a member of the American Law Institute; moreover, he has been
president of the El Paso United Way, the El Paso chapter of the
American Board of Trial Advocates, and the El Paso Bar Association
and has chaired the Judicial Resources Committee of the Judicial
Conference of the United States; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his notable accomplishments,
Judge Furgeson has received numerous accolades during his career,
including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Tech
Alumni Association, the West Texas Legal Legend Award from the
Texas Tech University School of Law, the 2010 Distinguished
Counselor Award from the State Bar of Texas Antitrust and Business
Litigation Section, the Luke Soules Award from the State Bar of
Texas Litigation Section, the Leon Green Award from the Texas Law
Review, and the Faculty Award from The University of Texas School of
Law; and
WHEREAS, A Lubbock native, Judge Furgeson received his
bachelor of arts degree in English from Texas Tech University and
earned his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law,
where he was an associate editor of the Texas Law Review; following
law school, he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and attained the
rank of captain; and
WHEREAS, Judge Furgeson has an impressive record of service
and professional achievement that will greatly benefit the new UNT
Dallas College of Law as it opens its doors, and he may reflect with
justifiable pride on his accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Judge Royal Furgeson on his
appointment as the inaugural dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law
and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Furgeson as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Anchia
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1445 was adopted by the House on April
24, 2013, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House