By Driver H.R. No. 684 75R11005 BNL-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The people of the Dallas area lost a valued citizen 1-2 and a good friend with the death of Earl Luna of Garland on August 1-3 15, 1996, and the members of the Texas House of Representatives 1-4 join in mourning his passing; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Caddo Mills, Mr. Luna received his early 1-6 education in Hunt County, and he had the unique experience of being 1-7 the only student in his class when he was in the ninth grade; he 1-8 went on to attend East Texas State University and The University of 1-9 Texas Law School, earning his law degree in 1949; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In June of that year, Mr. Luna embarked on a long 1-11 and distinguished legal career that would bring him great acclaim; 1-12 widely regarded as an expert in the challenging field of 1-13 constitutional law, he argued cases throughout all levels of the 1-14 state and federal judiciary, including the United States Supreme 1-15 Court; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Despite the demands of his career, this respected 1-17 gentleman still found time to devote to his community, and he drew 1-18 on his formidable professional expertise to benefit the local 1-19 public education system; a member of the Garland Independent School 1-20 District board of trustees for 11 years, he served eight terms as 1-21 president, and he later represented the district in a wide variety 1-22 of legal and administrative matters; and 1-23 WHEREAS, A staunch advocate of civil rights and equality for 1-24 all, this remarkable individual cast the deciding vote that made 2-1 the Garland school system one of the first racially integrated 2-2 districts in the area in 1963, and he played an instrumental role 2-3 in the success of the district's school choice plan, the first of 2-4 its kind in the nation; and 2-5 WHEREAS, In 1985, the district recognized him for his many 2-6 years of service by naming an elementary school in his honor, and 2-7 this well-deserved tribute was an apt reflection of the esteem in 2-8 which Mr. Luna was held; he was also an original director and 2-9 former president of Memorial Hospital of Garland, now Baylor 2-10 Medical Center at Garland, and for his service in that capacity he 2-11 received the prestigious Distinguished Health Service Award from 2-12 the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council in 1980; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Earl Luna made innumerable outstanding contributions 2-14 to his community and to the State of Texas and his legacy of good 2-15 works will ensure that his generous spirit will not be forgotten; 2-16 now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Earl Luna and extend 2-19 sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his beloved wife, 2-20 Mary D. Luna; to his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert 2-21 E. Luna; to his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Frank 2-22 Groseclose; to his grandchildren, Robert Huntley Luna, Eleanor E. 2-23 Luna, Brannan and Stacy Smoot, and Stephanie Jacobs; and to all the 2-24 relatives and friends of this eminent Texan; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-26 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-27 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 3-1 Earl Luna.