By Kuempel                                            H.R. No. 1091
       74R14087 BNL-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The family and many friends of Mary Joe Durning
    1-2  Carroll were deeply saddened by the passing of this remarkable
    1-3  woman on March 17, 1995, at the age of 80; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native Texan, Mrs. Carroll was born June 25, 1914,
    1-5  in Wichita Falls; an outstanding student and an award-winning
    1-6  public speaker, she received several scholarships to The University
    1-7  of Texas at Austin, where she earned both a bachelor's degree and a
    1-8  master's degree; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, It was there that she met and fell in love with H.
   1-10  Bailey Carroll, an instructor at the university, and after their
   1-11  marriage, the couple settled in Austin to raise their family;
   1-12  Professor Carroll also served as the executive director of the
   1-13  Texas State Historical Association, and he and his wife worked
   1-14  together on the publication of the acclaimed Handbook of Texas; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Mrs. Carroll's primary ambition was to become a
   1-16  lawyer, and in 1944 she began taking courses at The University of
   1-17  Texas School of Law; she received her law degree 11 years later and
   1-18  earned the highest score among the applicants taking the June 1955
   1-19  bar examinations, winning widespread recognition as the first woman
   1-20  in the state to earn such a distinction; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, She began her distinguished legal career soon after
   1-22  her 41st birthday, and over the years, her intellect and expertise
   1-23  were valued by clients such as the Texas Restaurant Association,
   1-24  the Texas Farm Bureau, and the Texas Press Association; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Highly regarded for her integrity and ability, this
    2-2  esteemed attorney was asked to serve as parliamentarian for the
    2-3  Texas Senate in 1961, and her outstanding service to Lieutenant
    2-4  Governor Ben Ramsey earned her the respect and admiration of all
    2-5  who worked with her; she later would be asked to draft such
    2-6  groundbreaking legislation as the Texas Open Records Act and the
    2-7  Open Meetings Act, and she offered invaluable insight in the
    2-8  shaping of public education policy; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Throughout her career, Mrs. Carroll excelled in the
   2-10  area of appellate briefing and argument; her last two appellate
   2-11  appearances were just before and just after her 80th birthday, and
   2-12  both cases resulted in victories for her; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, In all aspects of her life and her career, Mary Joe
   2-14  Carroll exemplified the highest standards of excellence and
   2-15  dedication; though her presence is gone from us now, her unique
   2-16  spirit will long endure in the hearts of those who were privileged
   2-17  to know her; now, therefore, be it
   2-18        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-19  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary Joe Durning
   2-20  Carroll and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family:
   2-21  to her son, J. Speed Carroll; to her grandson, Charles Durning
   2-22  Carroll; and to all the relatives and friends of this beloved
   2-23  woman, including her colleagues at Clark, Thomas & Winters, a
   2-24  Professional Corporation, and especially to Burgain G. Hayes, his
   2-25  wife, Kathy Hayes, and their children, Christine Hayes, Katie
   2-26  Hayes, Burgain Hayes IV, and Mary Margaret Hayes; and, be it
   2-27  further
    3-1        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-2  prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
    3-3  House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
    3-4  Mary Joe Durning Carroll.