By Counts H.R. No. 575
74R9594 SAJ-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
1-2 commend the Honorable Weldon Kirk for the many significant
1-3 contributions he has made to the citizens of West Texas and
1-4 congratulate him on his designation as the state's Outstanding
1-5 Jurist for 1994 by the Texas Bar Foundation; and
1-6 WHEREAS, A native of Gorman, Judge Kirk is a dutiful and
1-7 patriotic man who came to the aid of his country during World War
1-8 II as a member of the United States Army Air Corps; he maintained
1-9 his affiliation with the military for 27 years after the war ended
1-10 as a member of the United States Air Force Reserve, and he received
1-11 a series of promotions before retiring as a lieutenant colonel with
1-12 the Judge Advocate General's Department in 1973; and
1-13 WHEREAS, He attended college and law school at The University
1-14 of Texas at Austin and, while still a law student, took and passed
1-15 the State Bar Exam, earning his license to practice law in 1949;
1-16 and
1-17 WHEREAS, An esteemed counselor, he enjoyed a deeply
1-18 fulfilling 21-year career in private practice in Sweetwater; he
1-19 also offered wise and thoughtful guidance as Nolan County attorney
1-20 from 1955 to 1960 before winning election to serve his fellow
1-21 citizens as district attorney from 1961 to 1970; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Well regarded for his integrity and fairness, Judge
1-23 Kirk was elected judge of the 32nd Judicial District Court in 1971,
1-24 and he has capably and diligently served the citizens of Fisher,
2-1 Mitchell and Nolan Counties in that capacity for the past 24 years;
2-2 and
2-3 WHEREAS, He also serves as presiding judge of the Seventh
2-4 Administrative Judicial Region, which spans 40 counties and 33
2-5 courts in West Texas; and
2-6 WHEREAS, He has left an indelible mark on law enforcement
2-7 issues through his work with the Law Enforcement Committee of the
2-8 West Central Texas Council of Governments and the West Central
2-9 Texas Law Enforcement Association; furthermore, he has presented
2-10 papers to the criminal law section of the State Bar of Texas and
2-11 served his colleagues as an instructor in criminal law at a state
2-12 conference for judges; and
2-13 WHEREAS, A man of boundless energies, Judge Kirk has
2-14 continued to serve his peers in leadership positions with the State
2-15 Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation, and several other boards
2-16 and professional associations, and he has offered his invaluable
2-17 insight as an esteemed member of the State Judicial Redistricting
2-18 Board; and
2-19 WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished career, he has
2-20 maintained close ties to his community and has given freely of his
2-21 time, talents, and energies to the benefit of the Sweetwater
2-22 Jaycees, the Nolan County United Fund, the Nolan County Heart
2-23 Association, and the Nolan County Cancer Society; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Moreover, this remarkable gentleman helped establish
2-25 the People for Progress community action program and was
2-26 instrumental in the development of the Sweetwater-Nolan County
2-27 Library, the Pioneer Museum, Nolan County Coliseum, and the
3-1 Sweetwater campus of Texas State Technical Institute; and
3-2 WHEREAS, A deeply religious man, he has been nourished by a
3-3 deep and abiding religious faith that he expresses as a devout
3-4 member of First United Methodist Church, and he has served that
3-5 congregation in a variety of capacities; and
3-6 WHEREAS, Throughout his many endeavors, Judge Kirk has
3-7 enjoyed the love and support of his gracious wife, Mary Kelley
3-8 Kirk, and the couple's two fine children, Lisa Kirk and Paul Kirk;
3-9 over the years, their close-knit family has continued to grow, and
3-10 the Kirks now delight in the company of four cherished
3-11 grandchildren, Randi, Kelley, Jesica, and Paul Kirk; and
3-12 WHEREAS, Judge Kirk has worked tirelessly for the betterment
3-13 of his community throughout his distinguished lifetime, and he is
3-14 truly worthy of special praise and recognition on the occasion of
3-15 his most recent honor; now, therefore, be it
3-16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-17 Legislature hereby commend Judge Weldon Kirk for the many
3-18 significant contributions he has made to the people of Sweetwater
3-19 and West Texas and congratulate him on his designation as Texas'
3-20 Outstanding Jurist for 1994; and, be it further
3-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-22 prepared for Judge Kirk as an expression of high regard by the
3-23 Texas House of Representatives.