By Lewis of Tarrant                             H.C.R. No. 41

      75R4900 JTR-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, February 12, 1997, has been designated Byron

 1-2     Matthews Day in Fort Worth, and the members of the Texas

 1-3     Legislature are proud to join his family and friends in honoring

 1-4     this notable Texan for 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 were 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.