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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Donna has lost an admired community |
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leader with the death of Forrest L. Jones on February 18, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Houston to G. W. Jones, Sr., and Virginia |
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Hester Jones on November 25, 1939, "Champ" Jones was the |
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great-grandson of the late A. F. Hester, a founder of the Donna |
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community in the 1890s; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Jones started for the Donna Redskins football |
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team throughout his high school career and also lettered in track |
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and basketball; graduating from Donna High School in 1958 as class |
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salutatorian, he attended Southern Methodist University, where he |
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earned his bachelor's degree in accounting in 1962 and his law |
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degree in 1965; and |
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WHEREAS, Practicing law in the Donna and Weslaco communities |
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for more than 40 years, Mr. Jones worked for a time with his brother |
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Guy before joining the firm of Smith, McElheran, Lauderdale and |
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Jones in 1976; in 1984, he cofounded the present-day firm of Jones, |
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Galligan, Key and Lozano, L.L.P.; he also worked as a Donna city |
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attorney and as the Donna school attorney was named Most |
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Outstanding Young Lawyer in the State of Texas in 1972; and |
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WHEREAS, An active member of the community, Mr. Jones served |
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as the board chair of Alamo Bank of Texas, now Frost Bank, and Tan |
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U.S. Sales, Inc./Woodcrafters; a member of the Runn school board |
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and an officer in the Hidalgo County Bar Association, he was also a |
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member of the local Rotary Club and the Donna Chamber of Commerce, |
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was a Little League coach, and was active in the Donna Hooks |
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Fletcher Memorial Museum and Su Casa de Esperanza; and |
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WHEREAS, Fond of hunting, fishing, and reading, as well as |
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sports, travel, and mariachi music, Mr. Jones was also deeply |
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interested in researching and discussing his family history; |
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throughout all his endeavors, he enjoyed the love and support of his |
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wife of 43 years, the former Camille Johnston, and their three sons, |
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Michael, Matthew, and Mitchell; and |
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WHEREAS, Those who were fortunate enough to share in the |
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friendship and love of Champ Jones will long miss his charm, |
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loyalty, and kindness, but the memory of his warmth and generosity |
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will forever occupy a treasured place in their hearts; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Forrest L. Jones and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Camille; to his sons, Michael and his wife, Kelli, Matthew and his |
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wife, Melissa, and Mitchell; to his grandchildren, Chelsea, |
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Clayton, Forrest, Joshua, and Emily; to his brothers, Guy and his |
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wife, Rebecca, and Larry; and to his other relatives and many |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Champ |
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Jones. |