78R16505 MW-D

By:  Mowery                                                       H.R. No. 1220



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The family and friends of Rex McEntire of North 
Richland Hills were deeply saddened by the passing of this esteemed 
gentleman on May 5, 2003; and
	WHEREAS, Born on June 12, 1922, in Farr West, Utah, Mr. 
McEntire was raised in Utah and graduated as valedictorian from 
Weber High School; he attended Weber College and Utah State 
Agricultural College and graduated from Colorado College; he 
received a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law 
and earned the first master of law degree awarded by The University 
of Texas at Austin; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. McEntire proudly served as a combat officer in 
the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War; after 
active duty, he served in the reserves, commanding a number of 
rescue units, and retired in 1982 as a colonel; and
	WHEREAS, Also a notable athlete, Mr. McEntire spent part of 
his youth playing minor league baseball with the Cincinnati Reds 
organization, and he toured as a pitcher on a barnstorming 
fast-pitch softball team; Mr. McEntire also was an accomplished 
Golden Gloves boxer; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. McEntire moved to Tarrant County to practice law 
with Senator Doyle Willis, Sr., and for the last 20 years of his 
career, he was in partnership with his son, Mike McEntire; licensed 
to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Mr. McEntire 
argued a case before that court in 1956; and
	WHEREAS, A member of the State Bar of Texas for more than 50 
years, this well-known trial lawyer also was city attorney for 
municipalities throughout North Texas, including the cities of 
Haltom City, Richland Hills, Roanoke, Hurst, Lake Worth, and 
Keller, as well as North Richland Hills, which he served for 30 
years until his retirement in 2002; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. McEntire was a talented and highly respected man 
with a unique sense of humor, and the blessing of his life will be 
forever cherished by those who were privileged to share his love and 
friendship; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Rex McEntire 
and extend deepest sympathies to his family members:  to his wife, 
Pat McEntire; to his daughter, Mary McEntire Anderson, and her 
husband, Steve; to his son, Mike McEntire, and his wife, Kristi; to 
his daughter, Leigh McEntire Oatman; to his son-in-law, Dwight 
Childress, and his wife, Leanna; to his stepson, Steve Chaffin, and 
his wife, Yvette; to his grandchildren, Whit and Taylor Anderson, 
John and William Rex McEntire, Callie Oatman, Mark McEntire 
Childress, Latham and Kramer Childress and Courtney, Zach, and 
Blake Chaffin; to his brother-in-law, Hayley Dyer; to his longtime 
legal assistant, Gerry Shrader; to his dear friends, Frank and 
Juanita Gray; and to his other relatives and numerous friends; and, 
be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Rex 
McEntire.