R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Wiley Bluford Thomas, Jr., on January
1-2 29, 1997, at the age of 74, brought a great loss to the family and
1-3 many friends of this esteemed Angleton attorney; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born in Woodville on January 23, 1923, Mr. Thomas
1-5 was raised in Groveton by his parents Della Brannen and Wiley
1-6 Bluford Thomas; after completing secondary education he enrolled in
1-7 Sam Houston State University; and
1-8 WHEREAS, During World War II, Mr. Thomas interrupted his
1-9 education to serve in the U.S. Navy as seaman second class; in 1943
1-10 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps
1-11 and served in the Pacific Theater as a dive-bomber pilot, during
1-12 which time he earned two distinguished flying crosses and five air
1-13 medals for his exemplary service; and
1-14 WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Thomas received his law degree
1-15 from The University of Texas; he was admitted to the State Bar in
1-16 1948, and admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court of
1-17 the Southern District of Texas in 1957, the United States Supreme
1-18 Court in 1965, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth and Eleventh
1-19 Circuits, in 1981; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Committed to excellence in the legal profession,
1-21 Mr. Thomas was director of the State Bar of Texas from 1976 until
1-22 1979, president of the Brazoria County Bar Association in 1966,
1-23 fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and sustaining life fellow,
1-24 past chairman, and ex officio member of the board of the Texas Bar
2-1 Foundation; in 1985, he received a certificate of merit for
2-2 outstanding service to the legal profession from the State Bar; and
2-3 WHEREAS, In addition, he was a member of the American
2-4 Judicature Society, the International Society of Barristers, the
2-5 Federal Bar Association, the Lawyer's Society of Houston, and the
2-6 Federal Court Advisory Council; he lectured at the University of
2-7 Houston Law School in Trial Tactics and Techniques, he was a
2-8 faculty member of the College of Trial Advocacy in 1985, and he was
2-9 a special master for the 239th Judicial District Court of Brazoria
2-10 County; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas was a valued member of the Angleton
2-12 community and an endowed member of Angleton Masonic Lodge Number
2-13 829 A.F. & A.M., a member of the York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite
2-14 Bodies, and the Jurisprudence Committee of the Grand Lodge of
2-15 Texas; he was on the board of directors of Angleton Savings
2-16 Association and Brazoswood National Bank, and he was a member of
2-17 the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, where he served as a member of
2-18 the Vestry and as senior deacon; and
2-19 WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to share the love and
2-20 guidance of Wiley Bluford Thomas, Jr., will long miss his presence,
2-21 and he will surely be remembered with great affection and
2-22 admiration for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
2-23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th
2-24 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Wiley Bluford Thomas,
2-25 Jr., and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to
2-26 his wife, Mary Ann Thomas; to his son and daughter-in-law, John
2-27 Wiley and Robin Thomas; to his daughter Amanda Rebecca Thomas; to
3-1 his two grandsons, Sam Finely Thomas and Andrew Wiley Thomas; to
3-2 his sister, Vera Albritton; and to the many other relatives and
3-3 friends of this beloved man; and, be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-5 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-6 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-7 Wiley Bluford Thomas, Jr.
Bonnen
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 581 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 8, 1999.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House