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Texas Senate Bill SR188

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR188 Compare Versions

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1-SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 188
2- In Memory
3- of
4- L. Clifford Davis
1+2025S0135-1 02/24/25
2+ By: West S.R. No. 188
3+
4+
5+
6+
7+ SENATE RESOLUTION
58 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the people
69 of Tarrant County in mourning the loss of the Honorable L.
710 Clifford Davis, who died February 15, 2025, at the age of 100; and
8- WHEREAS, Born October 12, 1924, and raised amidst the Great
9- Depression and Jim Crow segregation in Wilton, Arkansas, L.
11+ WHEREAS, Born October 12, 1924, and raised amidst the
12+ Great Depression and Jim Crow segregation in Wilton, Arkansas, L.
1013 Clifford Davis dedicated his life to fighting for civil rights
1114 and ensuring justice for all; as a young man, he moved to Little
1215 Rock with his older siblings to attend high school, and he went on
1316 to earn a bachelor's and master's degree before pursuing his
1417 ambition to study law; and
1518 WHEREAS, Mr. Davis was accepted to Howard University
1619 School of Law, but due to Howard's expense, he attended the
1720 University of Arkansas Law School under conditions of complete
1821 segregation; although he would complete his law degree at Howard
1922 University, he paved the way for other Black students to enter
2023 graduate programs in Arkansas, and he returned to his home state
2124 to begin his law practice; and
22- WHEREAS, Using Brown v. Board of Education as a foundation,
23- Mr. Davis fought to desegregate schools in Arkansas, and in 1954,
24- he passed the Texas bar exam and became one of the few Black
25- attorneys working in Fort Worth; his efforts resulted in the
26- integration of the Mansfield and Fort Worth school districts; in
27- 1977, he organized the Fort Worth Black Bar Association; and
28- WHEREAS, Judge Davis became the first appointed and elected
29- Black district court judge in Tarrant County, which he served from
30- 1983 until 1988; he presided over the first drug diversion court in
31- Tarrant County and spent three decades as a visiting judge in North
32- Texas before returning to practice law; and
25+ WHEREAS, Using Brown v. Board of Education as a
26+ foundation, Mr. Davis fought to desegregate schools in Arkansas,
27+ and in 1954, he passed the Texas bar exam and became one of the
28+ few Black attorneys working in Fort Worth; his efforts resulted
29+ in the integration of the Mansfield and Fort Worth school
30+ districts; in 1977, he organized the Fort Worth Black Bar
31+ Association; and
32+ WHEREAS, Judge Davis became the first appointed and
33+ elected Black district court judge in Tarrant County, which he
34+ served from 1983 until 1988; he presided over the first drug
35+ diversion court in Tarrant County and spent three decades as a
36+ visiting judge in North Texas before returning to practice law;
37+ and
3338 WHEREAS, During his 75 years as a licensed attorney,
3439 Mr. Davis garnered many local, state, and national accolades for
3540 his contributions to his community and to the legal field,
3641 including the prestigious Blackstone Award from the Tarrant
3742 County Bar Association and an honorary doctorate of law degree
3843 from the University of Arkansas; a legal association and a Fort
3944 Worth elementary school were named in his honor; and
40- WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Davis found much fulfillment in his
41- role as a husband to his late wife, Ethel, for more than 50 years
42- and as a loving father to his daughters, Avis and Karen; he was a
43- devoted member of Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church; his
44- enthusiasm for mentoring lawyers and judges, providing pro bono
45- services, and encouraging young people in his community to pursue
46- higher education contributed to his legacy of community service and
47- advancing justice; and
45+ WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. Davis found much fulfillment in
46+ his role as a husband to his late wife, Ethel, for more than 50
47+ years and as a loving father to his daughters, Avis and Karen; he
48+ was a devoted member of Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church;
49+ his enthusiasm for mentoring lawyers and judges, providing pro
50+ bono services, and encouraging young people in his community to
51+ pursue higher education contributed to his legacy of community
52+ service and advancing justice; and
4853 WHEREAS, A man of integrity, courage, and generosity, L.
49- Clifford Davis's extraordinary contributions to civil rights will
50- long be remembered by our nation and by the people of the Lone Star
51- State; his remarkable life, his outstanding achievements, and his
52- dedication to serving others are a source of inspiration to many,
53- and his memory will be forever treasured by his loved ones and by
54- all who were privileged to share in his life; now, therefore, be it
54+ Clifford Davis's extraordinary contributions to civil rights
55+ will long be remembered by our nation and by the people of the
56+ Lone Star State; his remarkable life, his outstanding
57+ achievements, and his dedication to serving others are a source
58+ of inspiration to many, and his memory will be forever treasured
59+ by his loved ones and by all who were privileged to share in his
60+ life; now, therefore, be it
5561 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
5662 Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
5763 family of L. Clifford Davis; and, be it further
5864 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
5965 his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
6066 Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
6167 memory of Judge Davis.
62- West
63- ________________________________
64- President of the Senate
65- I hereby certify that the
66- above Resolution was adopted by
67- the Senate on March 4, 2025, by a
68- rising vote.
69- ________________________________
70- Secretary of the Senate
71- ________________________________
72- Member, Texas Senate