H.R. No. 1661



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The passing of James Allen Wood on May 16, 2003, at 
the age of 97, has left a void in the lives of the many individuals 
who were privileged to know this remarkable gentleman; and
	WHEREAS, Born January 14, 1906, in Warren County, Tennessee, 
Judge Wood attended McMinnville High School and earned degrees from 
David Lipscomb College, the University of Tennessee, and The 
University of Texas at Austin; and
	WHEREAS, In 1934, after having received his law degree, he 
settled in Corpus Christi where he practiced law for more than 60 
years; he was a member of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee 
on Rules of Civil Procedure from 1949 to 1986, the Board of 
Directors of the Nueces River Authority from 1972 to 1988, and the 
American College of Trial Lawyers; and
	WHEREAS, Appointed judge of the 94th District Court of Nueces 
County by Governor W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel in 1941 and subsequently 
by Governor Coke Stevenson, this patriotic American also served his 
country as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War 
II; and
	WHEREAS, Judge Wood was a member of numerous civic and 
professional organizations; he was a mentor to two generations of 
South Texas lawyers and was honored in 1983 with the Corpus Christi 
Bar Association's Cecil E. Burney Humanitarian Award; and
	WHEREAS, A man of compassion, humor, and literary talent, he 
authored seven unpublished volumes of poetry, including Life on a 
Warren County Farm, 1906-1923 and Items--Serious and Not; he was 
preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years, the former Eva 
Beth Sellers; and
	WHEREAS, Judge Wood made notable contributions to his 
community and this state, and although his loss is deeply felt, his 
legacy will live on for many years to come; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Judge James Allen Wood 
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his 
son, Eben Calhoun Wood; to his granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Wood; 
to his friend, Sharon Emerson; and to the many other relatives and 
friends of this esteemed gentleman; 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 James Allen 
Wood.

                                                                            Luna


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 1661 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 29, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House