R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of the Honorable Wade F. Spilman, a
1-2 former member of the Texas House of Representatives, on September
1-3 5, 2000, at the age of 75, brought a great loss to the family,
1-4 friends, and colleagues of this distinguished gentleman; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Born in Mission, Texas, on October 12, 1924,
1-6 Mr. Spilman was a graduate of Mission High School and earned
1-7 bachelor's and law degrees from The University of Texas at Austin,
1-8 where he lettered in tennis and was a member of the Texas Cowboys
1-9 and Sigma Nu fraternity; and
1-10 WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman proudly served his country
1-11 during World War II as an infantry staff sergeant in the United
1-12 States Army, including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge; he
1-13 demonstrated immense fortitude and perseverance while surviving as
1-14 a prisoner of war in Germany, for which he was awarded the
1-15 prestigious Purple Heart; and
1-16 WHEREAS, In addition to being a successful lawyer and
1-17 district attorney in Hidalgo County for many years, Mr. Spilman
1-18 represented that region in the Texas Legislature from 1955 to 1962;
1-19 his exemplary tenure in the Texas House of Representatives was one
1-20 marked by dedication and integrity and included serving as chairman
1-21 of the Judiciary Committee and leading several high-profile
1-22 investigations of fraud and corruption; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Following his legislative service, Mr. Spilman and
1-24 his family moved to Austin, where he was the longtime managing
2-1 partner of the law firm McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore; this
2-2 respected attorney specialized in regulatory and administrative law
2-3 and represented clients before the State Board of Insurance, the
2-4 Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the Texas Legislature; and
2-5 WHEREAS, The many noteworthy civic and professional
2-6 organizations of which he was a member include the Texas, Travis
2-7 County, and American bar associations, the Texas Civil Judicial
2-8 Council, the McAllen Junior Chamber of Commerce, the State Junior
2-9 Bar Association, the McAllen Citizens' League, the Hidalgo-Starr
2-10 Counties Draft Board, and the Austin YMCA; he served as chairman of
2-11 the McAllen United Fund Drive and was an energetic and enthusiastic
2-12 Boy Scout leader and Little League coach; and
2-13 WHEREAS, A loving husband, father, and grandfather,
2-14 Mr. Spilman derived immeasurable strength throughout the years from
2-15 his close-knit family; moreover, he counted many notable Texans as
2-16 his closest companions, including Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry,
2-17 who was best man in his wedding, Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock,
2-18 Texas Speaker of the House Byron Tunnell, Texas House and Senate
2-19 parliamentarian Robert E. Johnson, who served with him in the Texas
2-20 House during the 55th-57th sessions, and Joe Kilgore, United States
2-21 congressman and law partner; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Although Wade Spilman is gone from us now, his
2-23 spirit continues to dwell in the hearts and minds of the many
2-24 people who held him dear, and it is indeed appropriate to honor the
2-25 memory of this estimable Texan at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-27 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Wade F.
3-1 Spilman and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:
3-2 to his wife, Arlette Fowler Spilman; to his three children, Holli,
3-3 Steve, and Tom and his wife, Jane Ann; to his four grandchildren,
3-4 Virginia, Jack, Spencer, and Trent; and to his many other relatives
3-5 and friends; and, be it further
3-6 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-7 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-8 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-9 Wade F. Spilman.
Goolsby
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 822 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 24, 2001.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House