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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 105
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WHEREAS, Bill Bass, retired judge of the 12th Court of |
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Appeals in Tyler, was presented with the 2017 Justinian Award by |
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the Smith County Bar Foundation at its annual Law Day luncheon on |
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April 26; and |
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WHEREAS, This prestigious lifetime achievement award is |
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bestowed each year on a Smith County attorney whose career is |
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defined by an outstanding record of community service, legal |
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ethics, and professionalism; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Bass graduated from Texas A&M University in |
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1955 and soon after was commissioned as a second lieutenant in |
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the United States Army; following his active duty service, which |
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included a tour with NATO forces in Germany, he returned home to |
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Van Zandt County, where he spent five years working on his |
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family's farm in Martin's Mill before attending law school at |
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Southern Methodist University; and |
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WHEREAS, As a first-year law student, Judge Bass was |
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elected state representative for Texas House District 12, and he |
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went on to win two successive terms; over the course of his 1967 |
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to 1973 legislative tenure, he served on the Agriculture, |
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Military Affairs, and Public Health Committees, among others, |
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and he also was a member of the ethics reform coalition known as |
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the "Dirty 30"; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan went on to practice law for 16 |
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years with the firm of Elliott & Bass, until he was appointed by |
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Governor Mark White to the 12th Court of Appeals; twice winning |
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election to that court, he also was named by the Texas Supreme |
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Court as a member of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct; |
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following his retirement, he has served as senior appellate |
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judge; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his community, Judge Bass has |
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also lent his time and talents to the board of All Saints |
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Episcopal School, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Historic |
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Tyler, and Tyler Teen Court; moreover, he is an active congregant |
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at Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his dedication to the law and to his |
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fellow citizens, Judge Bill Bass has gained the lasting respect |
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and admiration of his peers, and he truly deserves special |
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recognition for his many contributions to the Lone Star State; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Judge Bill |
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Bass on his receipt of the Smith County Bar Foundation 2017 |
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Justinian Award and extend to him sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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Judge Bass as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. |
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Hughes |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on August 7, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |