87R1619 BK-D
 
  By: King of Parker H.R. No. 97
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Judge Joe Spurlock II, former state representative,
  trial and appellate court justice, and professor of law at Texas A&M
  University, passed away on June 9, 2020, at the age of 82; and
         WHEREAS, Born on January 29, 1938, Joe Spurlock was the son of
  Joe C. Spurlock, who served as a judge, and Clarice Spurlock, the
  first woman elected to the Fort Worth City Council; he grew up with
  the companionship of two sisters, Roma Sue and Kay, and a brother,
  Dean; after earning an economics degree from Texas A&M University,
  he went on to receive his juris doctor degree from The University of
  Texas at Austin and his master of laws degree from the University of
  Virginia; he also served with the United States Army in Vietnam and
  was awarded the Bronze Star Medal; and
         WHEREAS, Joe Spurlock enjoyed a highly successful career in
  public service and academia; during his tenure on the bench, he
  presided over the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth and
  distinguished himself as a Tarrant County trial court judge, and he
  also worked as an assistant criminal district attorney; moreover,
  he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to
  1977; over the course of his three terms in office, he served on an
  array of committees, including those on state finance, oil and gas
  regulation, and government affairs and efficiency, and he was
  appointed vice chair of the rules and criminal jurisprudence
  committees, among other important roles; and
         WHEREAS, Judge Spurlock became a founding faculty member of
  the Texas A&M School of Law, and numerous students benefited from
  his expertise and advice through the years; he was passionate about
  the teaching of law, and he strove to provide aspiring attorneys
  with a comprehensive education while also instilling in them traits
  such as compassion and determination; legal reform was another of
  his interests, and his efforts in that area included leading the
  Asian Judicial Institute; affectionately called "Father Texas" at
  the school of law, he was known for his signature cowboy hat and
  boots; and
         WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Spurlock drew strength
  from the rewarding marriage that he shared with his wife, Cheri
  Spurlock; he was the proud father of five children, Allison,
  Kathryn, Suzanne, Nicole, and the late Joe Spurlock III, and he was
  further blessed with eight grandchildren; and
         WHEREAS, Joe Spurlock was an esteemed jurist, legislator, and
  educator, a beloved mentor, and a dear friend and colleague, and
  through the countless lives he touched in these roles, he has left
  behind a legacy that will long endure; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Judge Joe
  Spurlock II and extend deepest sympathy to his relatives and
  friends; 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 Judge Joe
  Spurlock II.