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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Bryan lost a distinguished citizen with |
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the death of the Honorable William Thomas McDonald Jr. on February |
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17, 2021, at the age of 81; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Bryan on February 15, 1940, to W. T. and |
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Nonie McDonald, Tom McDonald earned his law degree from The |
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University of Texas at Austin in 1966; he married the former |
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Caroline Sweeney in 1965, and he took great pride in his sons, Scott |
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and Don, daughter-in-law, Amanda, and grandchildren, Hunter and |
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Grace; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of an outstanding career in the law, |
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Mr. McDonald served as assistant district attorney in Travis County |
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and as county attorney and district attorney in Brazos County; he |
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followed in his father's footsteps to become judge of the 85th |
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Judicial District, and since 1991 he had served throughout the |
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state as a senior district judge; he further contributed to his |
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profession as president of the Brazos County Bar Association; and |
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WHEREAS, A leader in his community, Judge McDonald was a |
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founder of Brazos County Humane Society, Brazos County Counseling |
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Service, and Boonville Heritage Park, and he held leadership roles |
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with the City of Bryan Parks and Recreation Board and the Brazos |
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Valley Groundwater Conservation District; a man of strong religious |
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faith, he was an active member of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church of |
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Bryan; he also was admired for his patriotism, his love of nature, |
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and his dedication to history, education, and the fair and just |
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application of the law; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge McDonald's numerous honors include the Samuel |
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Pessarra Outstanding Civil Jurist Award from the Texas Bar |
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Foundation, the Outstanding Criminal Jurist Award from the State |
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Bar of Texas, and the Silver Good Citizenship Award from the Sons of |
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Herrmann, among many others; and |
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WHEREAS, A respected jurist and an engaged citizen, Tom |
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McDonald lived a life that was rich in personal and professional |
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achievements, and he will forever be a source of inspiration to |
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those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Judge William |
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Thomas McDonald Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members |
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of his family and to his many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tom |
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McDonald. |