By Place H.R. No. 1137
74R14113 PAN-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, It has long been the custom of this chamber to pay
1-2 tribute to those citizens of the Lone Star State who have made
1-3 Texas a better place in which to live, work, and raise a family;
1-4 and
1-5 WHEREAS, One such individual is retired District Judge Byron
1-6 Leaird McClellan, Sr., of Gatesville, who for many years helped to
1-7 preserve the principles on which this nation was founded through
1-8 his outstanding service as a respected member of the state's
1-9 judiciary; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Born April 2, 1918, in Texas, Judge McClellan comes
1-11 from distinguished Lone Star lineage as a member of two of
1-12 Gatesville's most prominent families, the McClellans and the
1-13 Leairds; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Receiving his preparatory education from The
1-15 University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern
1-16 California, Judge McClellan's education was interrupted by the
1-17 onset of World War II, during which time he courageously served his
1-18 country as a B-25 bomber pilot and attained the rank of major in
1-19 the U.S. Air Force; and
1-20 WHEREAS, After the war, he obtained his law degree from
1-21 Baylor University's School of Law in 1948 and embarked on an
1-22 exemplary career in the legal profession, enjoying a successful
1-23 tenure in the private practice of law for more than a decade before
1-24 deciding to run for elective office as district attorney for the
2-1 52nd District; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Handily elected by area voters, this highly regarded
2-3 gentleman served as district attorney from 1961 to 1970 and quickly
2-4 won the respect and admiration of his colleagues in the legal
2-5 profession for his incisive grasp of legal issues and the
2-6 excellence of his work; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Appointed to the bench as district judge of the 52nd
2-8 District Court, Judge McClellan began his distinguished tenure in
2-9 1971 and for more than a decade continued to adhere to the high
2-10 standards of integrity and professionalism that area citizens had
2-11 come to expect of him over the course of his outstanding career in
2-12 public service; and
2-13 WHEREAS, During his years on the bench, Judge McClellan
2-14 acquired a reputation as "the fiddling judge," for while he served
2-15 his professional colleagues in such eminent positions as president
2-16 of the 52nd Judicial District Bar Association, he also is an
2-17 outstanding fiddler who has judged fiddling contests across the
2-18 state and has been a longtime member of the Texas Old Time Fiddlers
2-19 Association; and
2-20 WHEREAS, An avid golfer and sports fan as well, he served as
2-21 the first president of the Gatesville Country Club, where he is
2-22 known as "Bull" for his ability to kick up a tee, and was a diehard
2-23 Dallas Cowboys fan long before they had a shot at the Super Bowl or
2-24 even a winning season; and
2-25 WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, this fine gentleman has
2-26 enjoyed the love and support of his wife of 54 years, the former
2-27 Eloise Cook, who has devoted herself to maintaining a happy and
3-1 comfortable household for her husband and children over the course
3-2 of their marriage; and
3-3 WHEREAS, The McClellans were blessed with two children, the
3-4 late Byron L. McClellan, Jr., and Carolyn McClellan Donaldson, both
3-5 of whom held their father in such high regard that they chose to
3-6 follow in his footsteps, receiving their law degrees from Baylor
3-7 University to become attorneys themselves; and
3-8 WHEREAS, Through the years, their close-knit family has grown
3-9 as their children have married and had families of their own, and
3-10 today the McClellans take great pride in the achievements of their
3-11 seven grandchildren, including John McClellan, Heather McClellan
3-12 Engle, Samantha McClellan, Trudi Donaldson, Wendi Donaldson, Kelli
3-13 Donaldson, and Holli Donaldson; and
3-14 WHEREAS, Judge McClellan has made many significant
3-15 contributions to the betterment of this state, and he is indeed
3-16 deserving of special legislative recognition for his service to the
3-17 State of Texas; now, therefore, be it
3-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-19 Legislature hereby commend retired District Judge Byron Leaird
3-20 McClellan, Sr., for his extensive contributions to the citizens of
3-21 this state as an esteemed jurist and public servant; and, be it
3-22 further
3-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-24 prepared for Judge McClellan as an expression of highest regard by
3-25 the Texas House of Representatives.