By Junell                                         H.R. No. 98

      75R5185 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Thomas Freeman "Tom" Webb on December

 1-2     20, 1996, at the age of 70, has brought a great loss to the family

 1-3     and friends of this esteemed gentleman; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born in Floydada, Texas, on July 4, 1926, Mr. Webb

 1-5     attended high school in Abilene and received his undergraduate

 1-6     degree from Hardin-Simmons University; his studies were

 1-7     interrupted during World War II when he served his country as a

 1-8     radar operator in the United States Navy; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, An enthusiastic student and a prominent college

1-10     debater, he was graduated cum laude from Baylor University's School

1-11     of Law in 1949 and went on to post that year's high score on the

1-12     Texas Bar Examination; he returned to Abilene, where he practiced

1-13     law and served on the city council, and in 1956, he formed a

1-14     partnership with Malcolm Schultz and Aubrey Stokes, a college

1-15     classmate with whom he forged a lifetime friendship and fruitful

1-16     business association; and

1-17           WHEREAS, In the early 1960s, Mr. Webb and Mr. Stokes

1-18     relocated to San Angelo and established a law firm; this firm

1-19     expanded in 1972 to include a third partner, Sam Sparks, and today,

1-20     Webb, Stokes and Sparks is a vital part of the San Angelo

1-21     community; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Mr. Webb's list of accolades and achievements is

1-23     long and varied, and it includes membership in the Tom Green County

1-24     Bar Association, which he served as president from 1977 to 1978,

 2-1     and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, of which he was a charter

 2-2     member and former president; his distinguished career as a trial

 2-3     lawyer was marked by his membership in the Association of Trial

 2-4     Lawyers of America and the Law Science Academy of America, as well

 2-5     as election into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers of

 2-6     America; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, Mr. Webb enjoyed a long and loving marriage to his

 2-8     wife, Guillermina, and was a caring father, grandfather, and

 2-9     friend; he was well-known for assisting less fortunate individuals,

2-10     often with no chance of reimbursement, and accounts of his

2-11     generosity abound, with no problem too small to escape his

2-12     attention; and

2-13           WHEREAS, Thomas Freeman "Tom" Webb was a man of rare

2-14     compassion and integrity, and although his guidance and dedication

2-15     will be missed by all who knew him, his spirit will live on in the

2-16     hearts of the many people whose lives he touched; now, therefore,

2-17     be it

2-18           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-19     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Thomas Freeman "Tom"

2-20     Webb and offer sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to

2-21     his wife, Guillermina Webb; to his daughters and sons-in-law, Jan

2-22     and Bob James, and Juddi and Roger Boyce; to his sons and

2-23     daughter-in-law, Douglas and Terry Webb, and Judson Webb; to his

2-24     eight grandchildren; to his sister, Claudia Betti Benson; and to

2-25     the many other relatives and friends of this beloved gentleman;

2-26     and, be it further

2-27           RESOLVED,  That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-1     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas

 3-2     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

 3-3     Thomas Freeman "Tom" Webb.