By: Leedom S.R. No. 129
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 In Memory
1-3 of
1-4 The Honorable Phillip LaFrance Willis
1-5 WHEREAS, Former Representative Phillip LaFrance Willis
1-6 passed away on January 27, 1995, at the age of 76, and his death
1-7 has brought a great loss to the people of Texas and to the many
1-8 relatives and friends of this esteemed gentleman; and
1-9 WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born in Kaufman County, on
1-10 August 2, 1918, and was the youngest son of Alvin Samuel and
1-11 Eliza Phillips Willis; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Upon graduation from the University of North Texas,
1-13 this patriotic gentleman entered the United States Army Air Corps
1-14 Flying Cadet Training School in October, 1940, was commissioned in
1-15 August, 1941, as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was assigned to the 86th
1-16 Observation Squadron, Bellows Field, Hawaii; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Mr. Willis was to have married his sweetheart,
1-18 Marilyn Stubblefield, in Hawaii, Christmas, 1941, but on
1-19 December 7th, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, including the
1-20 air bases, prompting him to leap into quick defense of his base;
1-21 and
1-22 WHEREAS, This heroic pilot flew one of the two 86th
1-23 Observation Squadron planes that became airborne that day; however,
2-1 his plane was destroyed during the second attack; and
2-2 WHEREAS, He was assigned as ranking officer to Beach Patrol,
2-3 and on daybreak, December 8, 1941, Mr. Willis captured the surviving
2-4 member of a two-man Japanese suicide submarine caught on a reef,
2-5 World War II's first prisoner of war; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Mr. Willis immediately volunteered and became a
2-7 four-engine B-17 Bomber pilot and in June, 1942, during the
2-8 Battle of Midway, he was credited with sinking one of Japan's
2-9 largest troop transports, receiving the Silver Star for gallantry
2-10 in action; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Throughout his military service, Mr. Willis went
2-12 on to receive a plethora of medals and decorations including the
2-13 Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
2-14 the Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, the
2-15 World War II Victory Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
2-16 with Bronze Star, the Air Force Combat Readiness Medal, the Joint
2-17 Service Achievement Medal, and the Pearl Harbor Commemorative
2-18 Medal, along with eight theater and service medals; and
2-19 WHEREAS, Returning to the United States, he married Marilyn
2-20 on August 30, 1943, and the couple was blessed with two beautiful
2-21 daughters, Linda Willis Pipes and Rosemary Willis Roach; and
2-22 WHEREAS, In 1946, he retired as a Major at the age of 28 as
2-23 a result of combat disabilities, and he was duly elected, along
2-24 with his brother, our esteemed colleague, the Honorable Doyle Willis,
2-25 to the Texas Legislature, where both brothers shared the distinction
3-1 of being the only siblings to have served two consecutive terms
3-2 together in the Texas House of Representatives; and
3-3 WHEREAS, As a member of the House, Mr. Willis served with
3-4 honor and distinction, chairing the Committee on Constitutional
3-5 Amendments and sponsoring several important pieces of legislation;
3-6 and
3-7 WHEREAS, Upon his retirement from legislative service,
3-8 Mr. Willis settled his family in San Antonio and became President
3-9 and Chief Executive Officer of Phil Willis, Co., a real estate
3-10 brokerage company, and he was also a builder and developer; and
3-11 WHEREAS, Maintaining his strong sense of community spirit,
3-12 Mr. Willis was also involved as a member of the City of San Antonio
3-13 Zoning and Planning Commission and the San Antonio Board of
3-14 Realtors; and
3-15 WHEREAS, The 1960s saw the Willis family move to Dallas,
3-16 where Mr. Willis established himself as a real estate broker,
3-17 specializing in farm and ranch land, and he served on the Dallas
3-18 Board of Realtors and the Texas Association of Realtors; and
3-19 WHEREAS, Mr. Willis was also a civic leader, with
3-20 memberships in the Masonic Lodge, the Mounted Sons of the Desert,
3-21 the Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Sons of Confederate War
3-22 Veterans, the Texas Democratic Party (where he served as precinct
3-23 election judge), and numerous veterans organizations; and
3-24 WHEREAS, Throughout his exceptional life,
3-25 Phillip LaFrance Willis earned the respect and admiration of all
4-1 who were privileged to know him; he was a man of great character,
4-2 determination, and courage, and his memory will surely live on for
4-3 many years to come through the lasting legacy of achievement he
4-4 leaves behind; he was a man of whom Former Speaker Sam Rayburn
4-5 could say, was "a myth of a man--he didn't myth much"; now,
4-6 therefore, be it
4-7 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
4-8 74th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life and service of
4-9 the Honorable Phillip LaFrance Willis and extend sincere condolences
4-10 to the members of his family: his wife of 51 years, Marilyn Willis;
4-11 his daughters, Linda Willis Pipes and Rosemary Willis Roach; and his
4-12 brother and our esteemed colleague, the Honorable Doyle Willis; and,
4-13 be it further
4-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
4-15 prepared for the members of his family as an expression of deepest
4-16 sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns
4-17 this day, it do so in memory of a former esteemed colleague,
4-18 Phillip LaFrance Willis.
4-19 ______________________________________
4-20 President of the Senate
4-21 I hereby certify that the above
4-22 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-23 on January 31, 1995, by a rising vote.
4-24 ______________________________________
4-25 Secretary of the Senate
5-1 ______________________________________
5-2 Member, Texas Senate