1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 426 1-3 WHEREAS, The retirement of longtime Freestone County sheriff 1-4 J. R. "Sonny" Sessions, Jr., on December 31, 2000, has brought 1-5 to a close a distinguished tenure and one of the longest of any 1-6 sheriff in the State of Texas; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Born November 26, 1926, in Kirvin, Mr. Sessions is 1-8 the son and great-grandson of Freestone County sheriffs and the 1-9 great-great-grandson of a Limestone County sheriff; he enlisted 1-10 in the United States Navy shortly before his 18th birthday and 1-11 served in the Philippines, Japan, and the Pacific before 1-12 receiving an honorable discharge; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Following World War II, Mr. Sessions attended 1-14 Texas A&M University and graduated from Navarro Junior College; 1-15 he was a rancher for 15 years before being persuaded to run for 1-16 sheriff in 1964; victorious in that election, he served 1-17 continuously until his retirement 36 years later; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Under his leadership, the paid staff of the 1-19 sheriff's department has expanded to more than 20 officers and 1-20 includes deputies trained to deal with arson, child and elderly 1-21 abuse, and computer crime; Sheriff Sessions also established one 1-22 of the first reserve units in the state, along with a training 2-1 center for those wanting to obtain a peace officers license; today 2-2 the unit numbers some 30 fully licensed and trained personnel who 2-3 volunteer their time for all types of law enforcement work, in 2-4 addition to assisting at community events; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Other innovations included the installation of 2-6 a 9-1-1 system, creation of a RUCK program for the elderly, the 2-7 homebound, and latchkey children, and a drug education program 2-8 for the schools; a new jail that Sheriff Sessions helped design 2-9 was erected in the early 1970s and has consistently won 2-10 certification from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Public and professional organizations have 2-12 often benefited from the experience and insight of this notable 2-13 Texan; Sheriff Sessions received an appointment from former 2-14 Governor Mark White to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement 2-15 Officer Standards and Education and served on the Criminal Justice 2-16 Advisory Committee for the Heart of Texas Council of Governments; 2-17 he has also served on various committees of the National Sheriffs' 2-18 Association and in many offices of the Sheriffs' Association of 2-19 Texas, including that of president; and 2-20 WHEREAS, Among the accolades Sheriff Sessions has garnered 2-21 over the years have been the Tom Tellepson Award from the Sheriffs' 2-22 Association of Texas and the Masons' Golden Trowel Award; he has 2-23 given generously of his time and talent to the Freestone County 2-24 Historical Committee, Freestone County Museum Board, and the 3-1 chambers of commerce for Teague, Fairfield, and Wortham; he also 3-2 holds membership in several veterans' organizations; and 3-3 WHEREAS, Through the years Sheriff Sessions has drawn 3-4 support and inspiration from his wife, Peggy, and sons, Hammond, 3-5 Ken, and James; today the addition of numerous grandchildren has 3-6 made the Sessions family circle a larger and even livelier clan; 3-7 and 3-8 WHEREAS, A model Texas sheriff, Mr. Sessions brought to 3-9 his work integrity, courage, and unflagging commitment, winning 3-10 the respect and appreciation of countless colleagues and fellow 3-11 citizens, and it is indeed a pleasure to pay special tribute to 3-12 him at this time; now, therefore, be it 3-13 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-14 77th Legislature, hereby honor J. R. "Sonny" Sessions, Jr., 3-15 on the occasion of his retirement as sheriff of Freestone County 3-16 and extend to him deep appreciation for 36 years of exemplary 3-17 public service; and, be it further 3-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 3-19 prepared for Sheriff Sessions as an expression of high regard 3-20 from the Texas Senate. 3-21 Ogden 3-22 ______________________________________ 3-23 President of the Senate 3-24 I hereby certify that the above 3-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-26 on March 7, 2001. 4-1 ______________________________________ 4-2 Secretary of the Senate 4-3 ______________________________________ 4-4 Member, Texas Senate