R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to pay 1-2 tribute to the Honorable Darrell Hester for his remarkable record 1-3 of public service in behalf of the citizens of the State of Texas; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, After 28 years on the bench of the 197th District 1-6 Court in Cameron County, this esteemed gentleman has retired from 1-7 that position and will serve as presiding judge of the Fifth 1-8 Administrative Judicial Region, which stretches from Nueces County 1-9 to Zapata County; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Judge Hester has enjoyed a career in law spanning 1-11 nearly 50 years, during which time he has won the respect of his 1-12 peers and the citizens he has worked so diligently to protect; 1-13 throughout his tenure, he has administered justice with tough yet 1-14 fair rulings of law, dedicating his formidable legal abilities to 1-15 the betterment of all who reside in his district; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Born in East Texas and raised in Frost, Judge Hester 1-17 proudly served his country during World War II as a Navy 1-18 communications officer aboard destroyers in the Atlantic and 1-19 Pacific theaters, and he earned the rank of lieutenant; and 1-20 WHEREAS, He graduated in 1948 from The University of Texas 1-21 School of Law in Austin, and there he met Nell Sanders, a student 1-22 from La Feria; the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary 1-23 on this past Thanksgiving Day and have enjoyed a close partnership, 1-24 which has been blessed with five children and nine grandchildren; 2-1 and 2-2 WHEREAS, After law school, Judge Hester joined the Valley's 2-3 largest law firm; from 1951 to 1957, he served as a felony 2-4 prosecutor at the Cameron County Courthouse and in the 1970s, as 2-5 the judge assigned to Duval County, Judge Hester presided at trials 2-6 that led to the removal of 19 county officials; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Known as one of the most fearless judges in Texas, 2-8 Judge Hester served in a highly charged atmosphere but, even in the 2-9 face of threats, he fulfilled the duties of his office with the 2-10 utmost integrity and distinction; now, therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-12 Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Darrell Hester for his 2-13 unswerving dedication to fairness and justice in the courtroom and 2-14 extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success in the 2-15 future; and, be it further 2-16 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-17 prepared for Judge Hester as an expression of high regard by the 2-18 Texas House of Representatives. Solis of Cameron _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 75 was adopted by the House on March 25, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House