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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 402
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In Memory |
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of |
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Jack Pope |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins citizens |
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across the state in mourning the loss of the Honorable Jack Pope, |
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a beloved and revered citizen who died on February 25, 2017, at |
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the age of 103; and |
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WHEREAS, Jack Pope was born on April 18, 1913, in Abilene, |
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and graduated from the Abilene public school system; in 1934, |
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he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Abilene Christian |
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University, and in 1937, he earned a law degree from The |
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University of Texas at Austin, where he was editor of the Texas |
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Law Review; and |
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WHEREAS, While in Austin, Jack met Allene Nichols, a fellow |
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recent graduate; they married on June 11, 1938, and they soon |
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moved to Corpus Christi; Jack began practicing law with his |
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uncle, W. E. Pope, but like so many patriots, he postponed his |
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career to serve his country during World War II; he joined the |
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United States Navy and served with distinction as a cryptologist |
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in Washington, D.C.; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1964, he was elected to the Texas Supreme Court, |
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and in 1982, Governor Bill Clements appointed him chief justice |
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of the Texas Supreme Court; Justice Pope presided on the bench |
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for 38 years and is among the longest-serving judges on the state's |
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high courts; and |
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WHEREAS, Among his many accomplishments on the bench, |
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Justice Pope initiated new procedures for handling grievances |
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against attorneys, promulgated the Texas Rules of Judicial |
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Education, wrote the first jury handbook, and sponsored the |
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creation of the Texas State Law Library; he worked with judicial |
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colleagues to establish an Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts |
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program, which provides civil legal services to more than 100,000 |
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poor families across Texas, and he was also considered an expert |
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on matters of complex water laws in Texas and the southwestern |
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United States; and |
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WHEREAS, After he retired, he developed the Jack Pope Fellows |
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Program at Abilene Christian University to provide scholarships |
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to students interested in careers in public service; he has been |
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honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of both Abilene Christian |
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University and The University of Texas at Austin, and in 2010, |
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the State Bar of Texas honored him with the Lifetime Achievement |
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Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all things, Jack prioritized matters of |
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family; he shared 66 years of marriage with Allene, and he built |
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on to their home to take care of his in-laws after Allene's father |
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suffered a stroke; Jack was blessed with two children, three |
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grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, who were a source |
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of immense pride and joy; and |
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WHEREAS, Jack Pope was a highly respected member of the |
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community, and he made immeasurable contributions to the Texas |
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Judicial System; in 2014, the Texas Supreme Court Historical |
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Society published Common Law Judge: Selected Writings of Chief |
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Justice Jack Pope of Texas, a collection of essays and opinions |
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and a biography of this truly distinguished Texan who has left |
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behind a proud and lasting legacy in the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Jack Pope; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Jack Pope. |
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Watson |
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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 March 9, 2017, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |