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By: Hunter H.R. No. 681
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Judge Jack Pope is marking a special milestone in
his life as he celebrates his 90th birthday; and
WHEREAS, Judge Pope continues to devote himself to a life of
dedicated service to his family, friends, and to the entire state of
Texas; and
WHEREAS, Judge Pope has been a proud Texan his entire life
beginning with his birth in Abilene on April 18, 1913, as the son of
Dr. and Mrs. A.J. Pope; he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at
Abilene Christian University in 1934 and then received a law degree
from the University of Texas in 1937; and
WHEREAS, Judge Pope began his career as an attorney before
serving two years in the United States Navy during World War II; he
became the judge of the 94th district court in Corpus Christi at the
age of 33, the youngest district court judge in Texas at the time;
he later was elected to serve as justice of the Court of Civil
Appeals in San Antonio; then in 1964 he was elected to the Texas
Supreme Court and was appointed in 1982 by Governor William P.
Clements, Jr. as the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, an
office which he held for three years before retiring in 1985 -
serving a total of 28 years on the bench; and
WHEREAS, he has written more than 1,000 judicial opinions and
his efforts to simplify the process of submitting a case to the jury
have been widely applauded. His opinions regarding water,
property, and tort law stabilized many parts of the Texas law. In a
classic opinion written in the 1950s, he traced Texas water rights
back to Spain - earning him the name by some as the "Father of Texas'
Water Rights;" and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice Pope has continuously served his alma
mater, Abilene Christian University, as a distinguished member of
the Board of Trustees beginning in 1954 and as a Senior Board Member
beginning in 1983; and
WHEREAS, he received the highest honor his alma mater bestows
in 1964 when he was named Outstanding Alumnus of the Year at Abilene
Christian University; and
WHEREAS, he was honored by his colleagues and countless
friends upon his retirement from the Texas Supreme Court with the
establishment of an endowment fund at Abilene Christian University
whereby young men and women complete a public service program as
Jack Pope Fellows in order to serve throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Judge Jack Pope has been able to engage in a lifetime
of distinguished public service due to the support and
encouragement from his loving wife, Allene, during a 64-year happy
marriage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the Texas House of
Representatives honor Judge Jack Pope for his lifetime of service
to the state of Texas on the celebration of his 90th birthday; be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Judge Pope, his wife, and children - A.J. and Allen, as
an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.