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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Bill Freeman is retiring as Cooke |
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County judge on May 29, 2009, having served with distinction for |
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eight years; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of southern Oklahoma, Judge Freeman holds a |
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degree in criminal justice; before taking office as county judge, |
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he served for more than two decades as a justice of the peace for |
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Precinct 1 and was named Judge of the Year by the State of Texas |
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Justice of the Peace Association; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Freeman has overseen numerous important |
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projects, among them the construction of three new EMS stations and |
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a 212-bed jail, which houses new offices for the sheriff and justice |
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of the peace, as well as the purchase and remodeling of the Dixon |
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Street Courthouse Annex Building; also during his tenure, the |
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courthouse underwent a multimillion-dollar restoration with grants |
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from the Texas Historical Commission, and he directed the |
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institution of such technological advances as a county website, |
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high-speed Internet accessibility throughout the courthouse, and |
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credit card fine payment systems for many county offices; through |
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his sound fiscal management, the county has maintained a positive |
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cash balance fund; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to civic life, Judge Freeman serves |
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in such key roles as vice chair of the Texas Association of Counties |
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Workers Compensation Trust Board, president of the Texoma Area |
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Solid Waste Authority, and president of the Texoma Council of |
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Governments; he is a former president of the Justice of the Peace |
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and Constables Association of Texas, the Gainesville Optimist Club, |
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and the North Texas Justice of the Peace and Constables |
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Association, and a former vice president of the Texas Association |
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of Counties; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed public servant shared his knowledge |
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and expertise as a faculty member for the Texas Justice Court |
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Training Center, for North Central Texas College, and for a number |
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of commissions and organizations; moreover, he is a valued member |
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of Hillcrest Church of Christ; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his myriad community |
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responsibilities, Judge Freeman is a businessman with a farming and |
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ranching operation near Marietta, Oklahoma; his retirement will |
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allow him more time to spend at the ranch and with his family, which |
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includes his wife, Rae Freeman, and their 8 children, 18 |
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grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Bill Freeman has enhanced the quality of life in |
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Cooke County through his vision and skillful leadership, and his |
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many significant achievements will continue to benefit his fellow |
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citizens for years to come; 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 Judge Bill Freeman on his |
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retirement and extend to him best wishes for continued success and |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge Freeman as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |