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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the |
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passing of former Texas state representative Joe Barnett Cannon on |
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February 8, 2022, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of James Barnett Cannon and Virginia Buck |
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Cannon, Joe Cannon was born in Thornton on January 29, 1935; he grew |
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up with the companionship of his big brother, Buck, and in 1940, the |
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family moved to Mexia; in high school, he excelled in baseball and |
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several other sports, and his abilities in debate earned him the |
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title of state declamation champion in 1950; he also became student |
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body president and salutatorian of his graduating class at Mexia |
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High; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cannon attended North Texas State College, |
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where he majored in political science and was active in the campus |
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community, serving as president of the debate club, rush chair of |
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Sigma Nu Fraternity, and president of the student body; he went on |
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to study law at The University of Texas and was recognized as the |
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Outstanding Advocate in the finals of the State Moot Court |
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Competition; and |
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WHEREAS, While finishing up law school, Mr. Cannon |
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successfully ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, |
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and he ultimately served three terms in office, from 1959 to 1965; |
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during his tenure as a lawmaker, he was instrumental in passing |
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legislation to eliminate a state poll tax, to accelerate the |
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integration of public schools and universities, and to establish a |
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40-hour workweek for state school and hospital employees; moreover, |
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he served on a range of committees and was chair of the State |
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Hospitals and Special Schools Committee during the 57th Legislature |
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and vice chair of the Enrolled Bills Committee for the 58th |
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Legislature; and |
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WHEREAS, At the conclusion of his legislative service, |
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Mr. Cannon opened a law practice in Groesbeck; throughout his |
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distinguished legal career, he proved himself a skilled and |
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determined attorney and was renowned for the professionalism, |
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compassion, and courtesy he demonstrated in the course of his |
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duties; highly respected by his peers, he served as chair of the |
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State Bar of Texas board of directors and as chair of the district |
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grievance committee; in recognition of his many achievements, he |
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received an Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar |
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Foundation in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cannon married the former Alice Jean Sundberg in |
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1960, and they became the parents of two children, JoAl and Thure; |
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following the passing of Alice Jean, Mr. Cannon was fortunate |
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enough to find love again with Debra K. Goodwin, and the couple were |
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wed in 2000; over the years, he had the pleasure of seeing his |
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family grow to include two stepsons, David and Thomas, two |
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grandsons, Knox and Nash, and five step-grandchildren, Graham, |
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Lily, Harrison, Everett, and Jude; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man, an accomplished attorney, and |
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a dedicated public servant, Joe Cannon is deeply missed, but he |
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leaves behind a legacy that will long be treasured by all those who |
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held him dear; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Joe |
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Barnett Cannon and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Joe Cannon. |