R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The recent retirement of the Honorable Kenneth Alvie

 1-2     "Buck" Douglas as district judge of the 13th Judicial District has

 1-3     drawn to a close a distinguished career in jurisprudence and public

 1-4     service that has spanned four decades; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, After graduating from Barry High School in 1944,

 1-6     Judge Douglas proudly served his country as a member of the United

 1-7     States Army in the final days of World War II; following his

 1-8     discharge from the armed forces, he attended Navarro County Junior

 1-9     College for two years en route to pursuing a law degree; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Judge Douglas was graduated from Baylor University

1-11     Law School in 1951, and in May of that year he opened a law office

1-12     in Corsicana; in 1954 his strong work ethic and decision-making

1-13     skills earned him an appointment as city judge, in which capacity

1-14     he served until 1957, when he became county judge; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Fiscal responsibility and sound economic planning

1-16     characterized his tenure as county judge, and his superior

1-17     leadership helped the county to operate nearly free of indebtedness

1-18     during the years of his service; under Judge Douglas's guidance,

1-19     many improvements were made within the county, including the

1-20     refurbishment and remodeling of the county courthouse and jail and

1-21     the addition of a new wing to the Navarro County Memorial Hospital;

1-22     and

1-23           WHEREAS, In 1973, this esteemed individual stepped down from

1-24     his position as county judge when he was named executive director

 2-1     of the Texas Association of Counties; three years later, he was

 2-2     elected district judge of the 13th Judicial District, a post that

 2-3     he would retain for the next 20 years; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, A devoted husband and father as well, Judge Douglas

 2-5     and his wife, Dorothy, take great pride in their sons, Ken and

 2-6     Brett, and while his retirement from public service will no doubt

 2-7     be a great loss for the citizens of Navarro County, the Douglases

 2-8     will now have more time to devote to their five grandchildren; and

 2-9           WHEREAS, For 42 years, Judge Kenneth A. Douglas has proven to

2-10     be an outstanding member of the judicial community, a man whose

2-11     exemplary record of public service speaks for itself; on the

2-12     occasion of his retirement, he indeed merits our highest praise and

2-13     recognition for the legacy of achievement he leaves behind; now,

2-14     therefore, be it

2-15           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-16     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Honorable Kenneth Alvie

2-17     "Buck" Douglas on the occasion of his retirement and extend to him

2-18     sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness in the

2-19     future; and, be it further

2-20           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-21     prepared for Judge Douglas as an expression of high regard by the

2-22     Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                   Alexander

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 18 was adopted by the House on March

         20, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House