H.R. No. 82

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the passing of admired attorney and civic leader James Reed Lovell of Amarillo on July 4, 2023, at the age of 96; and

WHEREAS, The oldest son of Benjamin Reed Lovell and Reta Eudora Poovey Lovell, Jim Lovell was delivered at home in Ashtola on April 8, 1927, with the help of his grandmother, Johnnie Mae Blackburn Poovey, the local midwife; he grew up with the loving guidance of his parents and both his maternal and paternal grandparents; along with his brother, Joe Thomas, he worked and played at the Lovells' combination service station, grist mill, country store, and post office; he graduated as president of Clarendon High School's Class of 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II; following basic training in San Diego, he served on shore patrol in the Philippines; his duties included guarding men under court-martial, and his observations of military lawyers inspired his career choice following his honorable discharge in 1946; and

WHEREAS, The G.I. Bill enabled Mr. Lovell to become a first-generation college student; he attended Clarendon Junior College and Southern Methodist University, where he earned both his bachelor's degree in business administration and his law degree; after establishing a solo law practice in Dumas, he formed a partnership with Hugh T. Lyle in 1953; although Mr. Lyle died in 1976, Mr. Lovell continued to call the firm Lovell & Lyle in honor of his partner until 2016, when he moved to Amarillo to be closer to family and medical care; he became of counsel to the firm of his sons before fading eyesight obliged him to conclude his remarkable 69-year career; and

WHEREAS, Devoted to his profession, Mr. Lovell was a mentor to many and held membership with numerous local, state, and national associations; he was a director of the State Bar of Texas for many years and served as chair of the State Bar of Texas Insurance Trust; among other accolades, he received the 1979 President's Award and special recognition for his leadership in the founding and continued operation of the Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange; in order to launch the TLIE, he signed a personal bank loan for $165,000, and he served as president and chair of the board for three decades; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lovell was also an investor and developer of farm and ranch land in the 1970s; initially enjoying considerable success, he showed great tenacity, courage, and diligence as he weathered the crushing interest rates and deflation of agricultural land values in the 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Dedicated to Dumas and Moore Counties, Mr. Lovell was highly engaged in civic life; for over 25 years, he was Dumas city attorney, and he served other North Plains towns in this role as well; he was a bank director in Dumas and Sunray, and he completed multiple terms as a trustee of the Dumas Independent School District; in 1975, he was appointed to the West Texas State University Board of Regents, and he held the office of chair in 1978; he led the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, the Moore County Development Corporation, and similar groups for many years and spearheaded efforts to bring American Beef to the Schroeter Industrial Park at Cactus; in addition, he was very active in local politics; a man of deep faith, he was a valued member of First Presbyterian Church of Dumas for seven decades and served as an elder; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lovell married his high school sweetheart, the former Louva Hunt, in 1951, and they were blessed with eight children, Lynnita, John, Jimmy, Joe, Jeff, Laura, Leslie, and Jesse; he instilled in them good manners, a strong work ethic, and a sense of responsibility while also encouraging them to find their own paths; during summers, the Lovells broadened the horizons of their offspring on road trips to 48 states, including Alaska; that first marriage ended with three children still at home, and Mr. Lovell saw to their upbringing; he sent all of his sons and daughters through college; and

WHEREAS, Fortunate to find love a second time, Mr. Lovell met Betty King through a friend and dancing class, and they wed on December 28, 1991; the couple traveled extensively and enjoyed spending time at the cabin they built on the Cimarron River in Ute Park, New Mexico; they shared a fulfilling relationship until her passing in 2014; in his later years, Mr. Lovell was surrounded by the love of a fine family that grew to include many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as three stepdaughters and their extended families; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell was an engaged citizen, a devoted family man, and an admired member of the legal profession, and his wide-ranging contributions will remain a lasting source of inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of James Reed "Jim" Lovell and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his children, Nita Dyslin, John H. Lovell, Jim Lovell, Joe L. Lovell, Laura Taylor, Leslie Hawkins, and Jesse Lovell; to his grandchildren, Johnny Lovell, Whitney Chairez, Derrick Dyslin, Chad Dyslin, Esther Beagles, Rachel Lovell, Lindy Waldrip, David Lovell, Heath Lovell, Ben Lovell, Bristen Rodriguez, Nicole Blessen, Tiffany Vandergriff, Jace Bennett, Jancee Bennett, Jayton Bennett, Matthew Hawkins, Andrew Hawkins, Michael Hawkins, Mattie Kate Lovell, and Hunter Lovell; to his great-grandchildren, Ashton, Brooklyn, Raygan, Jameson, Docia, Adi, Darcy, Brayden, Berkeley, Celia, Caleb, Olivia, Samantha, CJ, Emmeline, Eleanor, Caylor, Dayton, Finleigh, Reagan, Davey, Brooklyn, Baker, and Maeve; to his stepdaughters, Carol Colunga, Linda Wolever, and Jenny Zeller; to his step-grandchildren, Adriana Vincent, Ari Wolever, Jiles Wolever, Lakin Wolever, Emma Zeller, and Evan Zeller; to his step-great-grandchildren, Lily and Taya; to his brother, Joe T. Lovell; and to his many other 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 James Reed Lovell.

Price

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 82 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on November 1, 2023.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House