| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Wise County lost a beloved resident |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | and civic leader with the passing of the Honorable Melton David Cude |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | on November 29, 2020, at the age of 65; and |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Melton Cude was born in Decatur on June 22, 1955, to |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | Milvern and Margaret Cude, and he grew up with a brother, Murray; he |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | was a member of the Class of 1973 at Decatur High School and |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | graduated with highest honors from Texas A&M University; in 1980, |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | he earned a juris doctor degree from Baylor Law; he began his career |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | as an attorney with the Decatur law firm of Woodruff, Fostel, Wren, |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | and Simpson; and |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, A dedicated public servant, Mr. Cude was the |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | presiding judge of Wise County Court at Law No. 1 and was fulfilling |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | his ninth elected term at the time of his death; in total, he served |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | more than three decades, becoming one of the longest-tenured |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | elected officials in the county; for eight years, he also held the |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | title of judge advocate general with the Texas Army National Guard; |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | and |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Cude enjoyed the love |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | and support of his wife, Arlena, with whom he shared a rewarding |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | marriage that spanned nearly four decades; he was the devoted |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | father of two children, David and Amy, and he took great pride in |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | his three grandchildren; a man of faith, he was a lifelong member of |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | First Baptist Church of Decatur, and he was actively engaged with |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | his community; and |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Although the untimely death of Judge Melton Cude has |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | brought profound sorrow to all who were privileged to know him, his |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | integrity and commitment to service will remain a lasting source of |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | inspiration; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Judge Melton David |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Cude and extend deepest condolences to the members of his family: to |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | his wife, Arlena Cude; to his son, David Cude, and his wife, |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | Kristen; to his daughter, Amy Casares, and her husband, Noe; to his |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | grandchildren, Evanglynhnn and Nehemiah Casares and Jireh Grace |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | Cude; to his brother, Murray Cude; to his father-in-law, J. L. |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | Hesteande; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | further |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 43 | 44 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|---|
| 44 | 45 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Judge |
|---|
| 45 | 46 | | Melton Cude. |
|---|