SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 314


In Memory

of

Robert O. Dawson


	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the 
citizens of Austin and the Fentress community in mourning the 
loss of Robert O. Dawson, who died February 26, 2005, at the age 
of 65; and

	WHEREAS, A beloved longtime law professor, Robert Dawson 
held the Bryant Smith Chair in Law at The University of Texas 
School of Law, where he taught for 37 years and was known to his 
students as "Mad Dog Dawson"; he was renowned both as a scholar 
and a reformer and wrote extensively on criminal practice and 
procedure and juvenile law, with a particular emphasis on Texas 
law; he is credited with designing a comprehensive, progressive 
juvenile justice system in Texas that became a model for the rest 
of the United States; and

	WHEREAS, He was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, to L. M. and 
Thelma Dawson and grew up in Vandalia, Missouri; he graduated
Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1960 
and attended Washington University School of Law with the 
intention of becoming a criminal lawyer; a criminal law research 
assignment led to his decision to teach law, and later, to the law 
casebook series he coauthored; and

	WHEREAS, In 1974, he formed the highly acclaimed Criminal 
Defense Clinic at the law school and served as its director until 
1998; more recently, he founded and was codirector of the Actual 
Innocence Clinic, where students learn to investigate claims of 
innocence by convicted prisoners; and

	WHEREAS, For his innovative work at the Actual Innocence 
Clinic, Professor Dawson, along with his coinstructors and 
students, received the 2005 Public Interest Award from the
Texas Law Fellowships; he was also recently honored by the 
University of Texas law students who elected him the Student Bar 
Association's Outstanding Faculty Member for 2004-2005; and

	WHEREAS, He wrote or coauthored many books, including 
Texas Criminal Practice and Procedure, Texas Juvenile Law, 
Criminal Justice Administration, and The Juvenile Justice 
Process; and

	WHEREAS, He was nationally recognized as an expert on 
equine law, an interest he shared with his wife, attorney and 
horsemanship safety expert Jan Dawson; together they ran the 
American Association for Horsemanship Safety; and

	WHEREAS, The way he handled the adversity in his life is 
characteristic of the way he lived his life--with courage and


grace; he was a dearly loved and highly respected law professor, 
colleague, and friend, and he will be deeply missed; and

	WHEREAS, Robert Dawson lived life to the fullest and was a 
devoted husband and father, and he leaves behind memories that 
will be treasured forever by his family and many friends; now, 
therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the 
bereaved family of Robert O. Dawson:  his wife, Jan Dawson; his 
daughters, Katherine Irene Dawson and Julie Ann Gerrow; his 
brother, William Dawson; his niece, Diana Dawson; and his nephew, 
Greg Dawson; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared
for his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the 
Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so 
in memory of Robert Dawson.
                                                                           Ellis




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 7, 2005, by a 
rising vote.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate