|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 649
|
|
WHEREAS, The Honorable L. DeWitt Hale, who rendered |
|
exceptional service to this state as a longtime member of the |
|
Texas House of Representatives, is celebrating his 92nd birthday |
|
on June 10, 2009; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Caddo Mills and raised in Farmersville, |
|
Mr. Hale graduated as salutatorian from Farmersville High School |
|
in 1934; a talented speaker, he excelled at debate both in high |
|
school and at The University of Texas, where he earned a |
|
bachelor's degree and, in 1940, a law degree with honors; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Hale won election to the Texas House of |
|
Representatives from Collin County in 1938 and became the |
|
youngest member of the 46th Legislature; after leaving the |
|
university, he held several government posts before joining the |
|
United States Army Air Forces; he served on active duty from 1943 |
|
to 1946, earning the Army Commendation Medal and advancing from |
|
private to first lieutenant; following his discharge, he |
|
continued to serve for a number of years in the air force reserve; |
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1946, Mr. Hale moved to Corpus Christi to |
|
practice law; six years later, he won election again to the Texas |
|
Legislature, and, with the exception of one term, he continued to |
|
serve as a representative from Nueces County until 1978; during |
|
his lengthy tenure in the house, he gained a reputation for |
|
fairness, thoroughness, and a superlative mastery of the |
|
legislative process, qualities that often resulted in his being |
|
given especially difficult legislative assignments; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Throughout his career as a representative, Mr. |
|
Hale staunchly championed education and the judiciary; among the |
|
numerous measures he was instrumental in passing were the |
|
Hale-Aikin school finance program, the Texas Education Code, the |
|
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1961, and the Women on Juries |
|
and Equal Rights Amendments to the Texas Constitution; in |
|
addition, he played a vital role in securing many projects that |
|
improved the quality of life in his district, and he handled the |
|
legislation that made the University of Corpus Christi a |
|
state-supported institution; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Hale chaired the House Judiciary Committee |
|
for eight years, as well as the General Investigating, Public |
|
Lands and Buildings, and Rules of the House Committees; he also |
|
cochaired the planning committee for the 1974 Constitutional |
|
Convention, and during the convention he chaired the judiciary |
|
committee; chosen speaker pro tempore for 1961 through 1963, he |
|
was recognized as dean of the house of representatives during his |
|
last four years in office; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This distinguished Texan holds membership in a |
|
number of professional and veterans organizations and is a valued |
|
congregant of First Baptist Church of Austin; he has received a |
|
host of accolades for his legislative endeavors, including life |
|
membership in the League of United Latin American Citizens and |
|
multiple awards from educators and the State Bar of Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, DeWitt Hale and the former Carol Moore were |
|
married on June 8, 1947, and they became the parents of two |
|
daughters, Janet Sue and Nancy Carol; the devoted couple enjoyed |
|
more than 60 years together, until Mrs. Hale's passing in 2008; |
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The integrity, breadth of vision, and legislative |
|
skill that DeWitt Hale brought to public office contributed |
|
immeasurably to the governance and progress of Texas, and his |
|
myriad achievements continue to enrich the Lone Star State; now, |
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
|
Legislature, hereby commend the Honorable L. DeWitt Hale for his |
|
outstanding public service and extend to him sincere best wishes |
|
for a joyful birthday celebration; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
Mr. Hale as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
|
|
Watson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on April 23, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |