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78R11910 KMP-D

By:  Cook of Colorado                                             H.R. No. 788



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The passing of the Honorable I. J. Irvin, Jr., of 
Glen Flora on December 12, 2002, at the age of 83, has brought a 
profoundly felt loss to the relatives and countless friends of this 
beloved Texan; and
	WHEREAS, A graduate of Wharton High School, Judge Irvin 
attended Texas A&M University, completed his undergraduate degree 
at the University of Maryland, graduated from the Army War College, 
and pursued advanced studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh; 
in 1941 he embarked on a successful career in the United States 
Army, one that would ultimately span 33 years and include service 
during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam before his retirement as a 
colonel; and
	WHEREAS, On his return to civilian life in his hometown of 
Glen Flora, Judge Irvin launched a real estate business and became 
an active and revered civic leader; the executive director of the 
Wharton Chamber of Commerce for five years, he served on the boards 
of the Wharton Independent School District, Houston-Galveston Area 
Council, Wharton County Central Appraisal District, Wharton County 
Industrial Development Corporation, and Southeast Texas Housing 
Finance Corporation; he was also a devoted member of the community 
of faith at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Wharton and was 
instrumental in the creation of the St. Thomas Episcopal School; 
and
	WHEREAS, In 1984 he took office as county judge, and this 
marked the beginning of a 10-year tenure during which he would 
become known as a passionate and effective champion for the 
citizens of Wharton County; Judge Irvin is especially remembered 
for the role he played in blocking the creation of a hazardous waste 
site in the Boling salt dome; in addition, he developed a Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plan for the county, introduced 
the Wharton County Crime Stoppers program, and helped to create the 
Riceland Regional Mental Health Authority, the area's first agency 
dedicated to the treatment of mental illness; and
	WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to know Judge Irvin will 
not soon forget the integrity and intelligence he brought to every 
challenge he undertook; although his presence is gone from us now, 
his memory will endure in the hearts of all those whose lives he 
touched, and his legacy will live on in the county he was so proud to 
call home; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable I. J. 
Irvin, Jr., and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his 
family: to his wife, Shirley Irvin; to his daughters and 
sons-in-law, Linda and Raymond Smith, Kaye Ellen and John Connor, 
and Candice and Dr. H. L. Whitley; to his stepchildren, Chris 
Eastwood, V. J. Eastwood, and Chuck and Becky Eastwood; to his 
sister and brother-in-law, Betty Parr and E. C. Muegge; to his 
sister-in-law, Kip Wooldridge; to his 9 grandchildren and 10 
great-grandchildren; and to his many other relatives and friends; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House 
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the 
Honorable I. J. Irvin, Jr.