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