H.R. No. 97
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Judge Joe Spurlock II, former state representative,
trial and appellate court justice, and professor of law at Texas A&M
University, passed away on June 9, 2020, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, Born on January 29, 1938, Joe Spurlock was the son of
Joe C. Spurlock, who served as a judge, and Clarice Spurlock, the
first woman elected to the Fort Worth City Council; he grew up with
the companionship of two sisters, Roma Sue and Kay, and a brother,
Dean; after earning an economics degree from Texas A&M University,
he went on to receive his juris doctor degree from The University of
Texas at Austin and his master of laws degree from the University of
Virginia; he also served with the United States Army in Vietnam and
was awarded the Bronze Star Medal; and
WHEREAS, Joe Spurlock enjoyed a highly successful career in
public service and academia; during his tenure on the bench, he
presided over the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth and
distinguished himself as a Tarrant County trial court judge, and he
also worked as an assistant criminal district attorney; moreover,
he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to
1977; over the course of his three terms in office, he served on an
array of committees, including those on state finance, oil and gas
regulation, and government affairs and efficiency, and he was
appointed vice chair of the rules and criminal jurisprudence
committees, among other important roles; and
WHEREAS, Judge Spurlock became a founding faculty member of
the Texas A&M School of Law, and numerous students benefited from
his expertise and advice through the years; he was passionate about
the teaching of law, and he strove to provide aspiring attorneys
with a comprehensive education while also instilling in them traits
such as compassion and determination; legal reform was another of
his interests, and his efforts in that area included leading the
Asian Judicial Institute; affectionately called "Father Texas" at
the school of law, he was known for his signature cowboy hat and
boots; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Spurlock drew strength
from the rewarding marriage that he shared with his wife, Cheri
Spurlock; he was the proud father of five children, Allison,
Kathryn, Suzanne, Nicole, and the late Joe Spurlock III, and he was
further blessed with eight grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Joe Spurlock was an esteemed jurist, legislator, and
educator, a beloved mentor, and a dear friend and colleague, and
through the countless lives he touched in these roles, he has left
behind a legacy that will long endure; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Judge Joe
Spurlock II and extend deepest sympathy to his 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 Judge Joe
Spurlock II.
King of Parker
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 97 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on March 10, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House