By Uher, Laney H.C.R. No. 3 74R4336 BNL-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Robert W. Calvert on October 6, 1994, 1-2 at the age of 89, has brought a great loss not only to his family 1-3 and friends but also to the countless individuals across the state 1-4 who benefitted from his leadership and dedication; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A former state representative, speaker of the house, 1-6 county attorney, and chief justice of the state supreme court, 1-7 Judge Calvert spent most of his life in service to his fellow 1-8 Texans, and many of his legislative and judicial reforms have 1-9 endured as a testament to his wisdom and fairness; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Born in Lawrence County, Tennessee, in 1905, Judge 1-11 Calvert overcame extreme adversity in his childhood to succeed at 1-12 the highest levels of state government; after his father's death 1-13 left his mother unable to support her children, he and his two 1-14 siblings were placed in the State Orphans' Home in Corsicana, where 1-15 he lived until he graduated from high school; and 1-16 WHEREAS, He worked to put himself through both college and 1-17 law school at The University of Texas at Austin, and during part of 1-18 that time he supported himself by working as an elevator operator 1-19 in the State Capitol; after receiving his law degree, he set up a 1-20 practice in Hillsboro before entering politics in 1933; and 1-21 WHEREAS, During his three successive terms in the Texas House 1-22 of Representatives, this distinguished lawmaker helped to pass 1-23 measures providing benefits for needy children, reforming the 1-24 procedures for the commitment of mentally ill individuals, and 2-1 establishing the Old Age Assistance Commission, which exists today 2-2 as the Texas Department of Human Services; in his final term, he 2-3 was elected speaker of the house, in which capacity he brought 2-4 outstanding leadership to the office; and 2-5 WHEREAS, In 1950, after serving tenures as the county 2-6 attorney for Hill County and as chairman of the State Democratic 2-7 Executive Committee, he brought his incisive legal mind and keen 2-8 sense of fairness to the Supreme Court of Texas, where he would 2-9 serve two consecutive terms as chief justice; in his 22 years on 2-10 the bench, he gained the respect and admiration of the legal 2-11 community for his impartiality, insight, and abiding respect for 2-12 the law, and to this day, many of his law review articles are 2-13 considered the final word on procedural issues in the state; and 2-14 WHEREAS, Although he retired from the court in 1972, Judge 2-15 Calvert was pressed into public service once more when he was 2-16 appointed chairman of the Texas Constitutional Revision Commission 2-17 in 1973; the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his legal 2-18 expertise, he later was associated with the prestigious law firm of 2-19 McGinnis, Lockridge, and Kilgore, and his autobiography was 2-20 published in 1977; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Considered "a giant of Texas law" by his colleagues, 2-22 Judge Robert W. Calvert was dedicated to upholding the legal and 2-23 democratic precepts of this state, and his unparalleled 2-24 contributions to the law will benefit many generations of Texans; 2-25 as a legislator, as an attorney, and as a judge, he adhered to the 2-26 highest standards of integrity, honor, and justice, and his 2-27 presence will be missed by all who were privileged to know him; 3-1 now, therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-3 hereby pay tribute to the life of Robert W. Calvert and extend 3-4 deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his daughter, 3-5 Carolyn Pool; to his grandson, Michael Pool; to his granddaughters, 3-6 Melissa Ross and Rachel Pool; to his two great-grandsons; and to 3-7 the many other friends and relatives of this remarkable gentleman; 3-8 and, be it further 3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-10 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-11 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in 3-12 memory of Robert W. Calvert.