1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-3 WHEREAS, On the fifth day of June, 1921, in Huntsville, the 1-4 county seat of Walker County, Texas, there was born to the marriage 1-5 of James Walter and Ethel Moore Morris, their fourth child, whom 1-6 they named James Walter Morris, Jr.; and 1-7 WHEREAS, During an eventful and adventurous youth in 1-8 Huntsville and Walker County, James participated enthusiastically 1-9 and successfully in animal husbandry, athletics, Boy Scouting, 1-10 hunting, and other wholesome endeavors; he gained valuable 1-11 experience while working at the J. Robert King Drug Store and 1-12 for other local merchants; one of his more memorable experiences 1-13 was an encounter with Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Young James matriculated at Huntsville High School, 1-15 where, increasing in height but not yet in girth, he participated 1-16 in athletics as a member of the basketball and football teams 1-17 before graduating in 1938; to this day, he is a proud "Huntsville 1-18 Hornet"; and 1-19 WHEREAS, After leaving his native Huntsville, James worked 1-20 in the shipyards in Houston, where he contributed to the defense 1-21 of his country in the construction of "Liberty Ships"; and 1-22 WHEREAS, He enlisted in the United States Navy and served 1-23 with honor aboard the U.S.S. Rockford in the South Pacific 2-1 theatre of naval operations during World War II; James remained 2-2 active in the United States Naval Reserve and was recalled to 2-3 active service aboard the U.S.S. Montrose during the Korean 2-4 Conflict; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Released from active duty with the United States 2-6 Navy in 1945, James moved to Austin, where his mother and his 2-7 sister, Margaret Aline Morris, resided and was hired as a file 2-8 clerk with the Texas Department of Public Safety; and 2-9 WHEREAS, A valuable and respected DPS employee for the 2-10 next 37 years, James was entrusted with increasingly responsible 2-11 assignments in its various divisions and sections, including 2-12 Identification, Driver's License, License and Weight, General 2-13 Stores, Fleet Operations, Personnel and Staff Services, and 2-14 finally Administration; he retired as Chief of Administration 2-15 of the Department of Public Safety on June 30, 1983; and today 2-16 holds a special Texas Ranger's commission from that agency; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Following his arrival in Austin, his sister 2-18 introduced him to Agnes Jeanne McLean; the two young women had 2-19 been members of the staff of the Honorable Coke Stevenson when 2-20 he was Governor of Texas; the couple became engaged and were 2-21 married at Saint Mary's Cathedral in Austin in April, 1947; and 2-22 WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Morris moved to Alice in 2-23 Jim Wells County, where James was stationed as a Driver's 2-24 License Examiner for the Department of Public Safety; they 2-25 returned to Austin in 1949 to make their permanent home and 3-1 to raise their three sons, James Walter III, born in 1948, 3-2 John Richard, born in 1953, and Joseph William, born in 1961; 3-3 and 3-4 WHEREAS, A devoted family man, James Morris is the proud 3-5 grandfather of three wonderful grandchildren to wit, 3-6 Christopher John Morris of Fort Worth, born in 1992, and 3-7 Joy Michelle Morris, born in 1980, and Carrie Melissa Morris, 3-8 born in 1983, both of Oklahoma City; and 3-9 WHEREAS, James Morris has distinguished himself as a faithful 3-10 member and active deacon of the First Baptist Church of Austin; 3-11 he is a loyal member and the current president of the 3-12 Judge Zollie Steakley Bible Class; an active patron and lifelong 3-13 advocate of the Boy Scouts of America, Mr. Morris was honored 3-14 with the Boy Scouts' prestigious Silver Beaver Award; he is also 3-15 active in the Texas Public Employees Association and the Texas 3-16 Retired Employees Association; and 3-17 WHEREAS, He has given freely of his time and abilities to 3-18 many benevolent, civic, educational, and charitable organizations 3-19 and activities, and is currently a longtime volunteer at Seton 3-20 Medical Center; and 3-21 WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Morris has ardently 3-22 contributed to the balance of nature in the State of Texas, 3-23 having harvested an abundance of game and fish from its fields, 3-24 lakes, and streams while also raising, from time to time, cattle, 3-25 chickens, ducks, dogs, quail, cats, and pigeons; and 4-1 WHEREAS, Since his retirement from the DPS, he has continued 4-2 to enjoy the abundant outdoor opportunities of this state, more 4-3 frequently from the back porch of his family's second home at 4-4 Lake Lyndon B. Johnson; and 4-5 WHEREAS, Commencing with the Special Session of the 4-6 69th Legislature in 1985 and continuing thereafter through the 4-7 Regular Session of the 74th Legislature in 1995, James Morris 4-8 served with industry, dignity, and distinction as the Doorkeeper 4-9 of the Texas Senate; and 4-10 WHEREAS, During his tenure, Mr. Morris was called upon, 4-11 from time to time, to offer the Senate's morning invocations, 4-12 consistently favoring the Senate and its members and staff with 4-13 heartfelt, meaningful, and memorable messages of faith and 4-14 inspiration, a sampling of which was published by 4-15 Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby, Jr., following the 4-16 71st Legislative Session; and 4-17 WHEREAS, By his conduct throughout the course of all 4-18 aspects of his life, James Morris has consistently exemplified 4-19 to his family, friends, and fellow Texans what it means to be 4-20 an American and a Texan, son, husband, father, and grandfather, 4-21 and a Christian gentleman; and 4-22 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate has chosen the occasion of his 4-23 retirement as Doorkeeper of the Senate to publicly recognize 4-24 James Walter Morris, Jr., and gratefully acknowledge his lifetime 4-25 of service to the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it 5-1 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 5-2 75th Legislature, hereby express its deepest gratitude to 5-3 James Walter Morris, Jr., for his unfailing loyalty and 5-4 exemplary service to the people of the Lone Star State; and, 5-5 be it further 5-6 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 5-7 Mr. Morris as a token of the affection and high regard of the 5-8 members of the Texas Senate. 5-9 Truan 5-10 Armbrister Galloway Ogden 5-11 Barrientos Harris Patterson 5-12 Bivins Haywood Ratliff 5-13 Brown Lindsay Shapiro 5-14 Cain Lucio Shapleigh 5-15 Carona Luna Sibley 5-16 Duncan Madla Wentworth 5-17 Ellis Moncrief West 5-18 Fraser Nelson Whitmire 5-19 Gallegos Nixon Zaffirini 5-20 Bullock, President of the Senate 5-21 ______________________________________ 5-22 President of the Senate 5-23 I hereby certify that the above 5-24 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 5-25 on February 10, 1997. 5-26 ______________________________________ 5-27 Secretary of the Senate 5-28 ______________________________________ 5-29 Dean of the Senate