1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1097
 1-3                                  In Memory
 1-4                                     of
 1-5                       The Honorable Martin Dies, Jr.
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins
 1-7     citizens across the state in mourning the loss of the
 1-8     Honorable Martin Dies, Jr., who died Monday, May 14, 2001, at
 1-9     the age of 79; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Martin Dies, Jr., was a leading citizen and
1-11     legendary figure of our state, who as a lawmaker and judge left his
1-12     mark on the legal community and the citizens of Southeast Texas;
1-13     he was a resident of Beaumont for 30 years and was a model public
1-14     servant who was known for his impartiality and professionalism
1-15     while serving as Chief Justice of the Ninth Court of Appeals; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Born December 21, 1921, in Greenville,
1-17     Hunt County, Texas, Martin Dies was the eldest son of
1-18     United States Congressman Martin Dies, Sr., and Myrtle McAdams Dies;
1-19     he attended the University of Virginia and earned a bachelor of
1-20     science degree from Stephen F. Austin University in 1942; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Martin Dies interrupted his college education to
1-22     volunteer for the United States Navy after our country entered
 2-1     World War II in 1941; he was chosen to attend the Midshipman's
 2-2     Officers Candidate School at Columbia University in New York City,
 2-3     where he earned a Gold Sword upon graduation; he served with
 2-4     distinction as an officer aboard the U.S.S. Richard W. Seusens
 2-5     in the Pacific Theater and received numerous medals and citations;
 2-6     following the Battle of Leyte Gulf, he and each of the men on his
 2-7     ship received the Presidential Unit Citation for bravery in action,
 2-8     one of the highest awards the Navy can confer; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, In 1946, Martin Dies married Ruth Marie White, and
2-10     in 1947, he graduated from Southern Methodist University Law School;
2-11     he then practiced law in Lufkin with the firm of Dies, Anderson
2-12     and Dies; from 1959 to 1967, Martin Dies served as a state senator
2-13     and became widely known for his outstanding work on behalf of the
2-14     disabled; he was the author of Senate Bill 403, which created the
2-15     Lufkin School for Mentally Retarded Children; he also authored the
2-16     PKU Test Bill with the goal of preventing mental retardation; and
2-17           WHEREAS, As a member of the Senate, Martin Dies was known
2-18     for his dedication to his work on behalf of our state's park
2-19     system; he was a co-sponsor of the bill that created the
2-20     Toledo Bend Reservoir, which was praised nationally for its
2-21     construction without the use of tax money; he was honored by his
2-22     colleagues in the Senate and by the Texas Parks and Wildlife
2-23     Commission when a resolution was passed in 1965 naming the
2-24     748-acre park at Dam B Reservoir "The Martin Dies Jr. State Park";
2-25     and
2-26           WHEREAS, In 1969, Martin Dies was named Secretary of State
 3-1     under Governor Preston Smith; during his tenure, he was a moving
 3-2     force in the enactment of the Technical Vocational Act of 1969 and
 3-3     served as chairman of the first Texas Governor's Committee on Human
 3-4     Relations and the Texas Lunar Landing Commission; and
 3-5           WHEREAS, Martin Dies became Chief Justice of the Ninth
 3-6     Court of Appeals in Beaumont in September of 1971 and served with
 3-7     distinction until his retirement on August 31, 1989; from 1973
 3-8     through 1980, Judge Dies served on the Texas Judicial Council,
 3-9     which advises the Legislature and Governor, and he was a member
3-10     of the Judicial Manpower Commission; in 1980, he was the recipient
3-11     of the Texas Handicapped Person of the Year Award; and
3-12           WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman,
3-13     Judge Dies was beloved and respected for his many accomplishments
3-14     and his exceptional leadership as a politician, statesman, and
3-15     judge; a role model for citizens across our state, he will be
3-16     remembered as a man of great courage and of the highest moral
3-17     and ethical standards; and
3-18           WHEREAS, Noted for his exceptional integrity, strength,
3-19     compassion, and generosity, Judge Dies gave unselfishly of his time
3-20     to his fellowman and his state, and his wisdom, warmth, and valued
3-21     counsel will not be forgotten by those who knew him; and
3-22           WHEREAS, Judge Dies lived his life to the fullest and was
3-23     a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he leaves behind
3-24     memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many
3-25     friends; now, therefore, be it
3-26           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 4-1     77th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
 4-2     family of Martin Dies, Jr.:  his wife, Ruth Dies; his daughter and
 4-3     son-in-law, Dianne Dies Schoch and Dr. Eugene P. Schoch III; his
 4-4     sons and daughters-in-law, Martin W. Dies and David Dies and
 4-5     Sharon Dies and Shelby Dies; his brother, Jack Dies; and his seven
 4-6     grandchildren; and, be it further
 4-7           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
 4-8     the members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy
 4-9     from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day,
4-10     it do so in memory of Martin Dies, Jr.
4-11                                                       Bernsen, Staples,
4-12                                                           Truan        
4-13     ______________________________     _______________________________
4-14          Member, Texas Senate               Member, Texas Senate
4-15                                        _______________________________
4-16                                             Member, Texas Senate
4-17                                        _______________________________
4-18                                            President of the Senate
4-19                                             I hereby certify that the
4-20                                        above Resolution was adopted by
4-21                                        the Senate on May 18, 2001,
4-22                                        by a rising vote.
4-23                                        _______________________________
4-24                                            Secretary of the Senate