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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The passing of Judge Earl Kent Ellis of Houston on |
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| 6 | 7 | | July 2, 2017, at the age of 78, concluded a life of professional |
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| 7 | 8 | | achievement and dedicated public service; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Neosho, Missouri, on November 24, 1938, to |
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| 9 | 10 | | Jewell William and Irene Lucille Ellis, Kent Ellis grew up on his |
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| 10 | 11 | | family's farm outside of Dill City, Oklahoma; on New Year's Day in |
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| 11 | 12 | | 1960, he exchanged wedding vows with the former Oreta Cammell, and |
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| 12 | 13 | | the couple went on to enjoy 57 rewarding years of marriage; they |
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| 13 | 14 | | became the proud parents of three children, Mark, Angela, and |
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| 14 | 15 | | James, and were blessed later in life with eight grandchildren and |
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| 15 | 16 | | two great-grandchildren; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Ellis graduated from The University of Texas at |
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| 17 | 18 | | Austin before earning his law degree from the South Texas College of |
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| 18 | 19 | | Law in Houston; from 1980 to 1985, he served as an assistant |
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| 19 | 20 | | district attorney in the Harris County District Attorney's Office, |
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| 20 | 21 | | and he subsequently entered private practice as an attorney for |
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| 21 | 22 | | several years; in 1994, he won election as a state district judge in |
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| 22 | 23 | | the state's 315th District Court, which specializes in juvenile |
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| 23 | 24 | | cases; voters returned him to office in 1998 and 2002, and during |
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| 24 | 25 | | his 12 years of exemplary service, he gained a reputation as a fair |
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| 25 | 26 | | and compassionate jurist; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, A man of strong faith, Judge Ellis served for many |
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| 27 | 28 | | years as a minister and elder in various Church of Christ |
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| 28 | 29 | | congregations in Oklahoma and Texas offering helpful guidance to |
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| 29 | 30 | | numerous individuals as they pursued their spiritual paths; he drew |
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| 30 | 31 | | on his vast knowledge of the Bible to deliver eloquent and inspiring |
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| 31 | 32 | | sermons, and he was likewise an exceptional writer on various |
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| 32 | 33 | | topics related to the Christian faith; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Judge Kent Ellis made a meaningful difference in |
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| 34 | 35 | | countless lives, and his unwavering commitment to his profession, |
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| 35 | 36 | | his faith, and his loved ones will be remembered and admired for |
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| 36 | 37 | | years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
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| 39 | 40 | | Judge Earl Kent Ellis and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family |
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| 40 | 41 | | and friends; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 43 | 44 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Judge Kent |
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| 44 | 45 | | Ellis. |
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