R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor

 1-2     one of our state's most respected jurists, Judge Joe J. Fisher, for

 1-3     his many years of exemplary service; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, A judge of the United States District Court for the

 1-5     Eastern District of Texas for almost four decades, Judge Fisher was

 1-6     appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959 and enjoys the

 1-7     distinction of having served on the bench longer than any other

 1-8     federal judge currently in office; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Described by his colleagues as "analytically

1-10     brilliant," Judge Fisher has earned the respect and admiration of

1-11     his peers for his mastery of the difficult procedural aspects of

1-12     complex litigation, his skillful handling of settlements, and his

1-13     incisive grasp of the pertinent legal issues of a case; and

1-14           WHEREAS, A native of San Augustine County, Judge Fisher was

1-15     graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches and

1-16     received his law degree from The University of Texas at Austin in

1-17     1936; and

1-18           WHEREAS, He embarked on his accomplished career in public

1-19     service in 1937 as the county attorney for San Augustine County

1-20     and, in 1939, assumed the responsibilities of district attorney for

1-21     the First Judicial District of Texas, in which capacity he served

1-22     for seven years and distinguished himself as an able trial lawyer;

1-23     he left his post in 1946 to enter a highly successful private

1-24     practice with the firm of Fisher, Tonahill & Reavley; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Judge Fisher honed his considerable legal acumen

 2-2     during a rewarding 11-year tenure with the firm and went on to

 2-3     preside with great distinction as the district judge of the First

 2-4     Judicial District of Texas from 1957 to 1959 before receiving his

 2-5     appointment to the federal bench; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, An honorary member of the Order of the Coif, Judge

 2-7     Fisher has earned numerous accolades throughout his remarkable

 2-8     career, having been honored in the past as the recipient of the

 2-9     Rosewood Gavel Award from St. Mary's University School of Law, the

2-10     1985 Outstanding Trial Judge Award from the American Trial Lawyers

2-11     Association, and the Award for Public Service in the Field of Law

2-12     from the White Lung Association; in 1989, the Joe J. Fisher Chief

2-13     Judge Emeritus Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law was

2-14     established at The University of Texas School of Law as a tribute

2-15     to his exceptional 30-year tenure as a federal judge; and

2-16           WHEREAS, This highly regarded gentleman holds an honorary

2-17     doctor of laws degree from Lamar University, and, in 1986, the

2-18     university established a lecture series in his name that has

2-19     brought such prominent individuals as former President Gerald Ford

2-20     and United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia to speak on

2-21     campus; and

2-22           WHEREAS, A longtime member of the Board of Trustees of

2-23     Southwestern University, Judge Fisher also has served in a

2-24     leadership capacity with Lions International and the Young Men's

2-25     Christian Association and has been recognized for his many civic

2-26     contributions with awards from the Boy Scouts of America and the

2-27     City of Beaumont; a former member of the Texas Historical

 3-1     Commission as well, Judge Fisher has pursued a personal interest in

 3-2     Texas history as a member of a number of local historical

 3-3     associations; and

 3-4           WHEREAS, Judge Joe J. Fisher has presided over legal affairs

 3-5     in the Eastern District of Texas with great wisdom and fairness for

 3-6     more than three decades and has adhered to the highest ideals of

 3-7     professional and personal integrity throughout his remarkable

 3-8     career; an outstanding jurist, lawyer, and citizen, it is indeed

 3-9     fitting that he receive special legislative recognition for his

3-10     many exceptional achievements in this regard; now, therefore, be it

3-11           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

3-12     Legislature hereby honor Judge Joe J. Fisher for his outstanding

3-13     contributions as a member of the judiciary; and, be it further

3-14           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

3-15     prepared for Judge Fisher as an expression of highest regard by the

3-16     Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                      Stiles

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 262 was adopted by the House on June

         2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House