By Hunter of Taylor                                    H.R. No. 135
       74R4994 PFG-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The State of Texas has lost a distinguished Texan
    1-2  with the passing of an esteemed former member of the legislature,
    1-3  Bill Tippen, on April 15, 1994, at the age of 71; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Born September 6, 1922, in Brownwood, Mr. Tippen
    1-5  moved to Abilene as a child and was graduated from Hardin-Simmons
    1-6  University in 1943; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, While a young man, this patriotic gentleman served
    1-8  in the Counter Intelligence Corps with the Fifth Army in Italy and
    1-9  Austria during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for his
   1-10  meritorious service; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, After the war, he returned to Texas where he married
   1-12  the former Elsie Murphree, beginning an extraordinarily happy union
   1-13  that would last for more than four decades; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Mr. Tippen was elected to serve as a member of the
   1-15  Texas House of Representatives in 1947 at the age of 25 and
   1-16  distinguished himself throughout two terms in office while
   1-17  simultaneously attending law school at The University of Texas at
   1-18  Austin; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, During his tenure in the house, Mr. Tippen
   1-20  contributed valuable leadership as vice chairman of the
   1-21  Congressional and Legislative Districts Committee and lent
   1-22  judicious input as a member of several other key committees,
   1-23  including the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and the Education
   1-24  Committee; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Having completed his law degree in 1949, he soon won
    2-2  election to the office of Taylor County Attorney and, after an
    2-3  exemplary tenure in this post, assumed the responsibilities of
    2-4  district attorney of the 104th District, in which capacity he
    2-5  earned high praise for his extensive knowledge and fair
    2-6  dispensation of the law; and
    2-7        WHEREAS, Embarking on a successful career in private practice
    2-8  in 1956, this esteemed attorney cofounded a highly respected
    2-9  Abilene law firm with his longtime partner, Bryan Bradbury, and
   2-10  served as president of the Abilene Bar Association from 1968 to
   2-11  1969; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Mr. Tippen returned to public service in 1972 after
   2-13  winning a special election to fill an unexpired term in the Texas
   2-14  Senate; noted for his experience in criminal justice matters, he
   2-15  was appointed by the governor to serve a six-year term as a member
   2-16  of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
   2-17  Education the following year; and
   2-18        WHEREAS, Mr. Tippen took great pride in his alma mater and
   2-19  was awarded Hardin-Simmons University's highest accolade, the John
   2-20  J. Keeter Award, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his
   2-21  countless hours of service in behalf of the institution as chairman
   2-22  and longtime member of its board of trustees; active in the local
   2-23  community as well, Mr. Tippen donated his time to the benefit of
   2-24  many civic organizations and was an involved member of the Abilene
   2-25  Rotary Club and the University Baptist Church, where he served as a
   2-26  deacon and taught the men's Sunday school class for many years; and
   2-27        WHEREAS, Throughout his active and fulfilling life, Bill
    3-1  Tippen adhered to the highest personal and professional standards
    3-2  and greatly benefited his fellow citizens through his public
    3-3  service and his active community involvement; though his wisdom and
    3-4  compassion will be sorely missed by all who knew him, his spirit
    3-5  will long endure through the lasting legacy of achievement he
    3-6  leaves behind; now, therefore, be it
    3-7        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-8  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Bill Tippen and
    3-9  extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
   3-10  Elsie; to his children, Jana Nelson, Kent Tippen, and Kevin Tippen;
   3-11  to his sister, Norma Sue Tippen McCann; to his brother, Forrest W.
   3-12  Tippen; to his aunts, Ollie Tippen Cutbirth and Della Tippen King;
   3-13  and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further
   3-14        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-15  prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
   3-16  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
   3-17  Bill Tippen.