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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable John Payton stepped down as Collin |
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County justice of the peace for Precinct 3, Place 2, on January 2, |
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2019, drawing to a close nearly three decades of outstanding |
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service to the citizens of the county; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Payton was only 18 and still a senior at Plano |
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East Senior High School when he first ran for the position in 1990; |
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he defeated the incumbent in the primary with 52 percent of the vote |
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and went on to win the general election; as the youngest person on |
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record ever to serve as a judge, his achievement was recorded in the |
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Guinness Book of World Records, and he was invited to appear on Late |
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Night with David Letterman; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary 28-year tenure as |
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justice of the peace, Judge Payton distinguished himself through |
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his creative efforts to reduce truancy; he offered stern but |
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compassionate guidance to the tens of thousands of young people who |
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appeared before him, using a variety of techniques to improve their |
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school attendance, such as requiring them to perform community |
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service, attend anger-management classes, or participate in |
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wilderness programs; this special emphasis on truancy earned him |
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the respect and admiration of parents and educators, and he has |
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regularly received graduation invitations from students who were |
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grateful for his intervention; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Payton earned an associate's degree from |
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Collin College and has pursued further studies at Dallas Baptist |
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University; he is a leader in the Collin County Republican Party, |
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and he has given generously of his time and effort through his work |
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with Habitat for Humanity, often wielding a hammer alongside |
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students he had sentenced to community service; he has been |
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recognized with the Dixie Clem Award, the Fred and Mazzie Moses |
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Community Builder Award, and the John McVeigh Lifetime Achievement |
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Award; and |
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WHEREAS, John Payton's dedication, professionalism, and |
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commitment to the young people of Collin County have greatly |
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benefited his community, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a |
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career well spent as he embarks on the next exciting chapter of his |
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life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the Honorable John Payton for his long |
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service as Collin County justice of the peace and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge Payton as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |