By Brimer                                              H.R. No. 771
         76R10666 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Native Texan John Justin is a distinguished
 1-2     businessman, rancher, civic leader, and philanthropist, and his
 1-3     many efforts in behalf of the Lone Star State indeed merit special
 1-4     legislative recognition; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, He is part of an impeccably Texan heritage, for his
 1-6     grandfather was the founder of Justin Boot Company at Spanish Fort
 1-7     on the old Chisholm Trail; Mr. Justin began his career in the boot
 1-8     factory, and after attending Texas Christian University he started
 1-9     his own enterprise, the Justin Belt Company; and
1-10           WHEREAS, In 1952 he became president of Justin Boot Company,
1-11     and he soon revolutionized the firm's policies, product line, and
1-12     marketing, building Justin into a nationally renowned operation;
1-13     and
1-14           WHEREAS, The Justin Boot, Belt, and Leathergoods Company
1-15     merged with the Acme Brick Company in 1968 to become Justin
1-16     Industries, Inc., and today the corporation is a leader in a
1-17     variety of manufacturing fields, with annual sales of about $450
1-18     million; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Mr. Justin is a familiar figure at trail rides and
1-20     rodeo events across the nation and, as chairman of the fund raising
1-21     committee, he was instrumental in establishing the Will Rogers
1-22     Equestrian Center in Fort Worth; in 1996 a bronze statue of
1-23     Mr. Justin on his favorite horse, Baby Blue, was dedicated outside
1-24     the equestrian center; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Deeply committed to the success and advancement of
 2-2     his hometown, Mr. Justin has been an active force in Fort Worth
 2-3     politics; he ably served the city and its residents as council
 2-4     member, mayor pro-tem, and as mayor from 1961 to 1963; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, In addition to working diligently for the city and
 2-6     state he so loves, Mr. Justin has distinguished himself as a
 2-7     charitable donor and activist of great prominence; he is a
 2-8     recipient of the Brotherhood Citation from the National Conference
 2-9     of Christians and Jews, and he and his wife, Jane, have been
2-10     presented with the Golden Deeds Award by the Exchange Club of Fort
2-11     Worth; and
2-12           WHEREAS, Mr. Justin has been inducted into the Texas Business
2-13     Hall of Fame and the State of Texas Hall of Honor, he has won the
2-14     Charles Goodnight Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the
2-15     Fort Worth Historic Preservation Awards Committee, and he has been
2-16     granted an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Texas
2-17     Wesleyan College; and
2-18           WHEREAS, A fortunate family man as well, Mr. Justin and his
2-19     wife have been blessed with two children, Mary and David, and the
2-20     family's years together have been filled with much love and many
2-21     joyful memories; and
2-22           WHEREAS, Mr. Justin has enjoyed great success and has
2-23     committed himself to sharing that success with others; in doing so
2-24     he has made Texas a better place, and it is a pleasure to recognize
2-25     his efforts at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-26           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-27     Legislature hereby commend John Justin for his many contributions
 3-1     to the Lone Star State and extend to him warmest best wishes for
 3-2     happiness and success in the years to come; and, be it further
 3-3           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 3-4     prepared for Mr. Justin as an expression of high regard by the
 3-5     Texas House of Representatives.