By Stiles H.R. No. 262 75R4718 BNL-D 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.