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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Jack Pope, a former chief justice of |
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the Texas Supreme Court who has rendered immeasurable service to |
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the Lone Star State, is celebrating his 96th birthday on April 18, |
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2009; and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in Abilene, Judge Pope knew from the |
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time he was a boy that he wanted to be a lawyer; as a youth, he also |
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showed the passion for learning that later marked his distinguished |
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career; he was a voracious reader who found inspiration in such |
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figures as the Roman historian Tacitus and orator Cicero; and |
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WHEREAS, Jack Pope graduated from Abilene High School in 1930 |
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and went on to attend Abilene Christian College, where he majored in |
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speech, earned letters as a member of the debate and tennis teams, |
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and served as president of the junior class and the Student |
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Association; subsequently, at The University of Texas School of |
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Law, he served as student editor of the Texas Law Review; and |
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WHEREAS, Licensed by the bar in 1937, Judge Pope moved to |
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Corpus Christi and joined the firm of his uncle, former state |
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representative Walter E. Pope; he quickly gained wide-ranging |
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experience in civil and criminal law and in New Deal-era labor and |
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transportation regulatory law; and |
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WHEREAS, Though he was exempt from military service in World |
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War II because he was the father of two young children, Judge Pope |
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enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1944 and served stateside for |
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the next two years; discharged in 1946, he returned to the practice |
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of law but later that year received an appointment as judge of the |
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94th District Court, becoming, at the age of 33, the youngest |
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district judge then serving in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1950, Judge Pope won the first of three |
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consecutive terms on the Court of Civil Appeals in San Antonio; |
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during his tenure, he issued a landmark ruling concerning the |
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Spanish roots of Texas water law, establishing a precedent that |
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continues to guide jurists to the present day; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Pope was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in |
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1964 and helped to draft significant rulings on property rights and |
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tort reform during his years as an associate justice; in 1982, |
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Governor Bill Clements appointed him to the post of chief justice, |
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an office he held until his retirement in 1985, and his tenure in |
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that post was marked by the elimination of double appeals and by |
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other important reforms in court administration; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for the lucidity of his thought and writing, |
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Judge Pope published more than 1,000 judicial opinions and over 70 |
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law-related articles during the course of his career; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has continued to lead an active |
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life since stepping down from the bench two decades ago; he has |
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served as president of the National Council of the Christian |
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Chronicle, a publication covering news of the Churches of Christ, |
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and coedited a volume about his ancestor John Berry, a notable Texas |
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pioneer; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Pope credits Abilene Christian University |
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with providing an essential foundation for his success in life, and |
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in return for the invaluable lessons he learned there, he has been |
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one of that school's staunchest supporters; he joined the ACU Board |
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of Trustees in 1954 and has served on the senior board since 1983; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In tribute to its esteemed graduate, ACU has |
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conferred on Judge Pope its Outstanding Alumnus of the Year award, |
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as well as its Change the World award; moreover, since 1989, the |
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school has bestowed scholarships on outstanding students who are |
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intending to pursue a career in public service, designating them as |
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Jack Pope Fellows; and |
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WHEREAS, Another institution that has benefited from Judge |
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Pope's active involvement is the State Law Library, which was |
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created as a separate state agency in 1971 largely through his |
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efforts; Judge Pope serves as a member emeritus of the Friends of |
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the State Law Library Board of Directors, and the Friends have |
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recognized him and another former chief justice, Joe Greenhill, |
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with the establishment of the Greenhill-Pope Law Book Fund; and |
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WHEREAS, Jack Pope shared a rewarding marriage with his wife, |
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Allene, from 1938 until her passing in 2004; their family today |
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includes two sons, Allen and Jackson Pope, two grandsons, Drew and |
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Ryan Pope, and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Peyton Locke; and |
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WHEREAS, Hailed for his intellect and integrity, Judge Pope |
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has contributed significantly to jurisprudence in the State of |
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Texas, and it is indeed a privilege to join in wishing him well on |
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this special day; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Jack Pope on the |
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joyous occasion of his 96th birthday and extend to him profound |
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appreciation for his exemplary public service; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge Pope as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |