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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Judge W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., is |
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beginning his service as the founding dean of the College of Law of |
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the University of North Texas System in May 2013 to prepare for the |
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program's opening in the fall of 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Furgeson is the senior United States district |
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judge in the Northern District of Texas and has been a federal judge |
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for more than 18 years; in addition, he serves as a panel judge on |
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the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation; previously, this |
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distinguished Texan served in the El Paso, Midland-Odessa, and San |
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Antonio Divisions of the Western District and was a practicing |
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lawyer for 24 years with the Kemp, Smith, Duncan & Hammond Law Firm |
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in El Paso; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his professional community, Judge |
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Furgeson is president of the Federal Judges Association, a member |
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of the Judicial Branch Committee of the Judicial Conference of the |
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United States, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, |
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and a member of the American Law Institute; moreover, he has been |
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president of the El Paso United Way, the El Paso chapter of the |
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American Board of Trial Advocates, and the El Paso Bar Association |
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and has chaired the Judicial Resources Committee of the Judicial |
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Conference of the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his notable accomplishments, |
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Judge Furgeson has received numerous accolades during his career, |
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including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Texas Tech |
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Alumni Association, the West Texas Legal Legend Award from the |
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Texas Tech University School of Law, the 2010 Distinguished |
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Counselor Award from the State Bar of Texas Antitrust and Business |
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Litigation Section, the Luke Soules Award from the State Bar of |
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Texas Litigation Section, the Leon Green Award from the Texas Law |
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Review, and the Faculty Award from The University of Texas School of |
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Law; and |
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WHEREAS, A Lubbock native, Judge Furgeson received his |
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bachelor of arts degree in English from Texas Tech University and |
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earned his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law, |
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where he was an associate editor of the Texas Law Review; following |
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law school, he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and attained the |
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rank of captain; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Furgeson has an impressive record of service |
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and professional achievement that will greatly benefit the new UNT |
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Dallas College of Law as it opens its doors, and he may reflect with |
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justifiable pride on his accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Judge Royal Furgeson on his |
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appointment as the inaugural dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law |
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and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge Furgeson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |