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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State lost an admired public servant |
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with the passing of the Honorable Stephen Franklin Preslar of El |
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Paso on March 2, 2009, at the age of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Coleman County, Stephen Preslar was born |
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to Sanford and Cora Preslar on March 27, 1918; he graduated from |
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Ranger High School and went on to attend the University of North |
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Carolina, the University of Iowa, Carmell College, and George |
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Washington University, where he earned his J.D.; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Preslar worked in Washington, D.C., as a |
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fingerprint specialist with the FBI and as an officer for the United |
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States Capitol Police from 1940 though 1950, and he further served |
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his country in the U.S. Navy and Naval Air Corps during World War |
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II; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to his beloved home state, Judge Preslar |
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practiced law in McCamey for 13 years; as his legal career evolved, |
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he was elected Upton County Attorney and later District Judge for |
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the 112th Judicial District; in 1963, this esteemed Texan was |
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appointed by Governor John Connally as Associate Justice of the |
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Eighth Court of Appeals in El Paso; in 1973, he was named the 10th |
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Chief Justice of the Eighth Court of Appeals, and for a decade after |
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his retirement in 1986, he continued to work as a visiting judge; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Chief Justice Preslar was a distinguished jurist who |
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dedicated his life to the service of the people of Texas; a mentor |
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and model of public service to three generations of judges and |
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attorneys, he is also credited with developing legislation that |
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created and dedicated funding for county law libraries across the |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to his family, Chief Justice Preslar shared |
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62 years with his wife, Avis McKelvain Preslar, who was his constant |
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and true companion, offering him encouragement and support |
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throughout their marriage; he was also the proud and loving father |
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of three sons, Stephen, Samuel, and Robert; and |
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WHEREAS, Imbued with a deep commitment to fairness and the |
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law, Judge Preslar contributed immeasurably to his community, his |
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country, and his profession, and the wide respect and admiration he |
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enjoyed testify to the profound impact of his life and legacy; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Chief Justice Stephen |
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Franklin Preslar and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Avis Preslar; to his son, Robert Lee Preslar; |
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to his grandchildren, Kim, Allison, Sarah, and Kelsey; to his |
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great-grandchildren, Dean and Vaughn; to his colleagues on the |
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Eighth Court of Appeals; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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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 Judge |
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Stephen Preslar. |