1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 805
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                        The Honorable Wade F. Spilman
 1-6           WHEREAS, The passing of the Honorable Wade F. Spilman,
 1-7     a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, on
 1-8     September 5, 2000, at the age of 75, brought a great loss
 1-9     to the family, friends, and colleagues of this distinguished
1-10     gentleman; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Born in Mission, Texas, on October 12, 1924,
1-12     Mr. Spilman was a graduate of Mission High School and earned
1-13     bachelor's and law degrees from The University of Texas at Austin,
1-14     where he lettered in tennis and was a member of the Texas Cowboys
1-15     and Sigma Nu fraternity; and
1-16           WHEREAS, This esteemed gentleman proudly served his
1-17     country during World War II as an infantry staff sergeant in
1-18     the United States Army, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge; he
1-19     demonstrated immense fortitude and perseverance while surviving
1-20     as a prisoner of war in Germany, for which he was awarded the
1-21     prestigious Purple Heart; and
1-22           WHEREAS, In addition to being a successful lawyer and
 2-1     district attorney in Hidalgo County for many years, Mr. Spilman
 2-2     represented that region in the Texas Legislature from 1955 to
 2-3     1962; his exemplary tenure in the Texas House of Representatives
 2-4     was one marked by dedication and integrity and included serving
 2-5     as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and leading several
 2-6     high-profile investigations of fraud and corruption; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Following his legislative service, Mr. Spilman and
 2-8     his family moved to Austin, where he was the longtime managing
 2-9     partner of the law firm McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore; this
2-10     respected attorney specialized in regulatory and administrative
2-11     law and represented clients before the State Board of Insurance,
2-12     the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the Texas Legislature;
2-13     and
2-14           WHEREAS, The many noteworthy civic and professional
2-15     organizations of which he was a member include the Texas,
2-16     Travis County, and American bar associations, the Texas Civil
2-17     Judicial Council, the McAllen Junior Chamber of Commerce, the
2-18     State Junior Bar Association, the McAllen Citizens' League,
2-19     the Hidalgo-Starr Counties Draft Board, and the Austin Young
2-20     Men's Christian Association; he served as chairman of the McAllen
2-21     United Fund Drive and was an energetic and enthusiastic Boy Scout
2-22     leader and Little League coach; and
2-23           WHEREAS, A loving husband, father, and grandfather,
2-24     Mr. Spilman derived immeasurable strength throughout the years
2-25     from his close-knit family; moreover, he counted many notable
2-26     Texans as his closest companions, including Dallas Cowboys coach
 3-1     Tom Landry, who was best man in his wedding, Lieutenant Governor
 3-2     Bob Bullock, Texas Speaker of the House Byron Tunnell, Texas House
 3-3     and Senate parliamentarian Robert E. Johnson, who served with him
 3-4     in the Texas House during the 55th-57th sessions, and Joe Kilgore,
 3-5     United States congressman and law partner; and
 3-6           WHEREAS, Although Wade Spilman is gone from us now, his
 3-7     spirit continues to dwell in the hearts and minds of the many
 3-8     people who held him dear, and it is indeed appropriate to honor
 3-9     the memory of this estimable Texan at this time; now, therefore,
3-10     be it
3-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-12     77th Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of the
3-13     Honorable Wade F. Spilman and extend sincere condolences
3-14     to the members of his family:  his wife, Arlette Fowler Spilman;
3-15     his three children, Holli, Steve, and Tom and his wife, Jane Ann;
3-16     his four grandchildren, Virginia, Jack, Spencer, and Trent; and
3-17     his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further
3-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
3-19     prepared for the members of his family as an expression of deepest
3-20     sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns
3-21     this day, it do so in memory of Wade F. Spilman.
3-22                                                    Barrientos
3-23           Armbrister           Harris              Shapiro
3-24           Bernsen              Haywood             Shapleigh
3-25           Bivins               Jackson             Sibley
3-26           Brown                Lindsay             Staples
3-27           Cain                 Lucio               Truan
3-28           Carona               Madla               Van de Putte
3-29           Duncan               Moncrief            Wentworth
 4-1           Ellis                Nelson              West
 4-2           Fraser               Ogden               Whitmire
 4-3           Gallegos                                 Zaffirini
 4-4                      Ratliff, President of the Senate
 4-5                                  ______________________________________
 4-6                                         President of the Senate
 4-7                                       I hereby certify that the above
 4-8                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 4-9                                  on April 24, 2001, by a rising vote.
4-10                                  ______________________________________
4-11                                         Secretary of the Senate
4-12                                  ______________________________________
4-13                                           Member, Texas Senate