By: Hughes H.R. No. 2736

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Franklin Jones, Jr., of Marshall, who died on December 18, 2008, at the age of 77; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was born in Marshall on April 24, 1931, to William Franklin Jones, Sr., and Huldah Harrison Jones; he attended New Mexico Military Institute and earned his bachelor's degree in 1952 and his law degree in 1954, both from The University of Texas; and

WHEREAS, Admitted to the Texas Bar in 1953, Mr. Jones returned to Marshall in 1954 and joined his father at the firm of Jones & Jones, which was founded by his grandfather in 1891; he worked there as a civil trial lawyer until the end of his life; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was very active in his profession, serving as president of his local and regional bar associations; his long history with the State Bar of Texas included service as director of the Bar from 1967 to 1970, as vice president from 1970 to 1971, and as the Bar's 100th president from 1980 to 1981; he served on many of the organization's committees over the years, including three years on the Supreme Court Grievance Oversight Committee and 18 years on the Supreme Court Advisory Committee, and he was a member of the Administration of Justice Committee and chair of the Group and Prepaid Legal Services and Disciplinary Review Committees; in addition, Mr. Jones belonged to the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; and

WHEREAS, This committed legal professional was also a trustee of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism and The University of Texas Law School Foundation, and he was a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; his many contributions were recognized in 2004, when he received the Outstanding 50-Year Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation; moreover, he was named a Texas Super Lawyer for three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jones was equally active with the American Bar Association, serving as a State Bar delegate to the House of Delegates and as a member of the Governing Council of the Litigation Section; from 1987 to 1989, he served on the ABA Commission to Improve the Liability Insurance System; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Jones participated in civic affairs as well and served as chair of the Courthouse Preservation Council of Harrison County; he was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and in 2002, he was recognized by the Marshall Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Jones dedicated himself to the legal profession and to his community, and he will be remembered with admiration and affection by all those whose lives he touched; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Franklin Jones, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his son, Franklin Jones III, and his wife, Ronna; to his daughter, Terry Bolger, and her husband, Mark; to his grandchildren, Bryan Bolger, and Savannah, Tye, and Hallie Jones; to his two great-grandchildren; to his sister, Jerene Winocour; to his nephew, Jonathan Winocour; to his brother-in-law, George Francisco III, and his wife, Trebie; and to his other relatives and friends; 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 Franklin Jones, Jr.