|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, The Texas legal community lost a true legend with |
|
the death of Richard "Racehorse" Haynes of Trinity on April 28, |
|
2017, at the age of 90; and |
|
WHEREAS, Born in Houston on April 3, 1927, Richard Michael |
|
Haynes was sent as a child to live with his grandmother in San |
|
Antonio during the Great Depression; she began his education before |
|
he was old enough for school, teaching him the three Rs and |
|
instilling in him a love of language; as a teenager, he received his |
|
colorful nickname from a football coach, but he distinguished |
|
himself more in boxing, becoming a welterweight champion; he joined |
|
the U.S. Navy after high school and earned the Navy and Marine Corps |
|
Medal for saving two wounded marines from drowning during the |
|
landing at Iwo Jima; and |
|
WHEREAS, Following World War II, Mr. Haynes completed his |
|
bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Houston and |
|
served as a paratrooper in the Korean War before going on to |
|
graduate from the University of Houston Law Center; his sharp |
|
intellect, remarkable memory, and flair for drama made him a |
|
formidable defense attorney, and early in his career, he prevailed |
|
in 163 consecutive DWI cases, one of the longest winning streaks in |
|
legal history; he achieved victories in numerous seemingly |
|
impossible cases, including some 40 capital murder trials, and Time |
|
magazine named him as one of the nation's best in his field; a |
|
number of his high-profile cases were celebrated in books, movies, |
|
a Broadway play, and even a song, but in 2009, he told an |
|
interviewer that his biggest success was securing the freedom of an |
|
African American man framed for thefts committed by a white |
|
coworker; outside the courtroom, he was affable and engaging, and |
|
he was a mentor as well as a role model to many younger lawyers; he |
|
continued to practice law well into his 80s, when his health began |
|
to decline; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Haynes was devoted to his family, and he shared a |
|
fulfilling marriage of 63 years with his wife, Naomi Haynes, before |
|
her death; he was the proud father of Reginald "Slade" Haynes, Jason |
|
"Blake" Haynes, Ricki Cheryl Haynes, and the late Trayce Alexander, |
|
grandfather of Damon "Dusty" Haynes, Dillon McGilberry, Robyn |
|
Alexander, Kristyn Alexander, Parker Haynes, Justin O'Cain, |
|
Sterling Haynes, and Hayley Reanne Haynes, and great-grandfather of |
|
Cole Haynes, Tyler Richard Haynes, Madison Haynes, Alexandra |
|
McGilberry, Naomi Grace Haynes, and Tanner O'Cain; and |
|
WHEREAS, Racehorse Haynes will remain a name to reckon with |
|
in the history of the legal profession, and those who were |
|
privileged to share in his love and friendship will forever |
|
treasure their memories of his warmth, sardonic wit, and great |
|
kindness; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richard "Racehorse" |
|
Haynes and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; |
|
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 Richard |
|
"Racehorse" Haynes. |