By Uher                                                H.R. No. 825
         76R12395 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of the Honorable Joe Madison Kilgore on
 1-2     February 10, 1999, at the age of 80, has brought a great loss to
 1-3     the family and many friends of this notable Texan; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Born in Brown County and raised in the Rio Grande
 1-5     Valley, Mr. Kilgore graduated from The University of Texas at
 1-6     Austin and its school of law; while attending college, he worked in
 1-7     the campaigns of then-United States Representative Lyndon B.
 1-8     Johnson and began a long association as a friend and advisor; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Lifelong friendships with J. J. "Jake" Pickle and
1-10     John Connally developed from their collaboration as leaders of a
1-11     University of Texas law fraternity, and the close-knit trio fondly
1-12     referred to themselves ever after as "tres amigos" and created
1-13     their own unique greeting for each other; they became active in
1-14     campus politics, winning three successive presidencies of the UT
1-15     student body; and
1-16           WHEREAS, In 1941, Mr. Kilgore joined the Air Corps and served
1-17     his country with valor during World War II, flying dozens of
1-18     missions in the Mediterranean, and for his heroic efforts, he was
1-19     awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross; he attained
1-20     the rank of lieutenant colonel and later achieved the rank of major
1-21     general in the Air Force Reserves; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Mr. Kilgore and the former Jane Redman were united
1-23     in marriage in 1945 and enjoyed a happy and close relationship that
1-24     was blessed with four children; over the years, their family
 2-1     welcomed the addition of six grandchildren; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Following World War II, this highly respected
 2-3     gentleman practiced law in Edinburg until his election to the Texas
 2-4     House of Representatives, in which he served from 1947 until 1954;
 2-5     he then was elected to the United States House of Representatives,
 2-6     succeeding his boyhood friend, Lloyd Bentsen, and he spent a decade
 2-7     representing the Rio Grande Valley's 15th Congressional District
 2-8     before relocating to Austin and joining the law firm that later
 2-9     became McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Mr. Kilgore's commitment to his community
2-11     encompassed volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as
2-12     a board member of Scott & White Hospital in Temple since 1984 and
2-13     as a regent of The University of Texas System from 1967 to 1973 as
2-14     well as guiding the UT Ex-Students Association as president from
2-15     1994 to 1995; through the years, his many deserved accolades
2-16     included being named a Distinguished UT Alumnus in 1982 and
2-17     Austin's Distinguished Citizen in 1987; and
2-18           WHEREAS, Well-known for his integrity, high ideals, and
2-19     eloquence, Mr. Kilgore was called "the best debater and speaker in
2-20     the House," and his word was valued as his bond; this was vividly
2-21     demonstrated when his good friend and fellow lawyer, Amos Felts,
2-22     died, leaving a son, Dan, who was in his final year of law school;
2-23     after allaying Dan's concerns about his father's law practice,
2-24     Mr. Kilgore and his partner for the next six months answered the
2-25     mail, returned calls, and provided legal advice to keep the Felts
2-26     practice open, while keeping up with their own practice; when Dan
2-27     graduated from law school, Mr. Kilgore handed him the keys to his
 3-1     father's practice; and
 3-2           WHEREAS, Though he will be deeply missed for his friendship,
 3-3     counsel, and gentle humor by those fortunate enough to have known
 3-4     him, his generous spirit will surely be remembered with affection
 3-5     and admiration for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
 3-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 3-7     Legislature pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Joe Madison
 3-8     Kilgore and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family;
 3-9     to his wife, Jane Redman Kilgore; to his daughter and son-in-law,
3-10     Shannon J. Kilgore and Dr. Louis K. Hine; to his sons and
3-11     daughters-in-law, Mark H. and Celia Kilgore, Dean M. and Sydney
3-12     Kilgore, and William M. and Mary Lou Kilgore; to his brother and
3-13     sister-in-law, G. A. "Jack" and Kay Kilgore; to his sister, Jean
3-14     Mauldin; to his grandchildren; and to the many other relatives and
3-15     friends of this remarkable gentleman; and, be it further
3-16           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-17     prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-18     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-19     Joe Madison Kilgore.