WHEREAS, February 12, 1997, has been designated Byron Matthews
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, February 12, 1997, has been designated Byron Matthews Day
1-2 in Fort Worth, and the members of the Texas Legislature are proud
1-3 to join his family and friends in honoring this notable Texan for
1-4 his many achievements; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Judge Matthews' long and colorful legal career began
1-6 after his graduation from Baylor University Law School, when at the
1-7 age of 22 he became an assistant district attorney in the Tarrant
1-8 County District Attorney's office; and
1-9 WHEREAS, In 1938 Mr. Matthews entered private practice,
1-10 quickly building a formidable reputation, and by the 1950s he was
1-11 widely acknowledged as the preeminent criminal defense lawyer in
1-12 Fort Worth; accounts of his most celebrated cases have reached the
1-13 status of legend, and he is now a member of the Texas Criminal
1-14 Defense Lawyers Hall of Fame; and
1-15 WHEREAS, The consummate legal acumen and keen intelligence
1-16 that characterized Mr. Matthews' career as an attorney ensured his
1-17 success as a jurist, and he served with distinction for almost 20
1-18 years as judge of Criminal District Court No. 1; among his many
1-19 accomplishments in this position was his inauguration of Tarrant
1-20 County's pretrial release and court coordinator programs; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Judge Matthews takes an active interest in community
1-22 affairs, and he serves on both the Carswell Redevelopment Board and
1-23 the executive committee of the Lake Worth National Bank; an avid
1-24 horseman as well, he has twice been elected president of the
2-1 National Cutting Horse Association; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable career, Judge Matthews has
2-3 drawn strength and inspiration from his wife, Jozelle, and their
2-4 affection and regard for each other have continued to grow and
2-5 flourish for more than half a century; and
2-6 WHEREAS, On Byron Matthews Day, Tarrant County Judge Tom
2-7 Vandergriff will present a Tarrant County flag to Judge Matthews in
2-8 appreciation for his legacy of public service; this ceremony will
2-9 mark the first time that a resident of the county has been
2-10 presented with a flag that has been flown over the Tarrant County
2-11 Courthouse; now, therefore, be it
2-12 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-13 hereby honor Judge Byron Matthews for his many contributions to the
2-14 city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the State of Texas and
2-15 extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and
2-16 happiness in the future; and, be it further
2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-18 prepared for Judge Matthews as an expression of high regard by the
2-19 Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Lewis of Tarrant
Laney Gutierrez Ogden
Alexander Haggerty Oliveira
Allen Hamric Olivo
Alvarado Hartnett Palmer
Averitt Hawley Patterson
Bailey Heflin Pickett
Berlanga Hernandez Pitts
Bonnen Hightower Place
Bosse Hilbert Price
Brimer Hilderbran Puente
Burnam Hill Rabuck
Carter Hinojosa Ramsay
Chavez Hirschi Rangel
Chisum Hochberg Raymond
Christian Hodge Reyna of Bexar
Clark Holzheauser Reyna of Dallas
Coleman Horn Rhodes
Cook Howard Rodriguez
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 41 was adopted by the House on
January 30, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 41 was adopted by the Senate on
February 4, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor