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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, James William Bass Jr. of Tyler, justice emeritus of |
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the 12th Court of Appeals, passed away on June 20, 2025, at the age |
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of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on November 19, 1934, Bill Bass graduated from |
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the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and was |
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commissioned as a U.S. Army field artillery lieutenant; he married |
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the former Patsy Ann McMurray in 1956, and they moved to Germany, |
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where he served with NATO forces; returning to Van Zandt County, he |
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worked on the family farm in Martin's Mill before beginning law |
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school at Southern Methodist University; during his first year, he |
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was elected to the first of three terms in the Texas House of |
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Representatives; he served on a number of committees, including |
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Agriculture and Military Affairs, and he was a member of the famed |
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"Dirty Thirty" coalition of House members whose efforts to oppose |
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corruption among elected officials ushered in a new era in the Texas |
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Legislature; and |
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WHEREAS, Justice Bass returned to private life to practice |
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law with his friend and mentor in the firm of Elliott & Bass; |
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following his appointment to the 12th Court of Appeals, he was twice |
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elected to the bench, and in retirement, he continued to serve as a |
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senior appellate judge; he further distinguished himself as a |
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member of the Texas Constitutional Revision Commission and the |
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State Commission on Judicial Conduct; among other accolades, he |
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received the Justinian Award from the Smith County Bar Foundation; |
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he benefited his local community as a member of the boards of the |
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East Texas Symphony Orchestra and All Saints Episcopal School; in |
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addition, he was a vestryman of his parish; he was preceded in death |
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by a daughter, Julia Alexandra Bass, longtime journal clerk of the |
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Texas House; and |
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WHEREAS, Scholarly and well-read, Bill Bass was a gifted |
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orator and an invaluable mentor, and while his passing brings great |
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sadness to his family and friends, his legacy of public service will |
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remain a lasting source of inspiration to all; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature, 1st |
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Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of James William Bass |
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Jr. and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Patsy Ann McMurray Bass; to his children, Dr. James William |
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Bass III and his wife, Dana Taylor Bass, Leslie Suzanne Bass and her |
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husband, David Hudson, and Elizabeth Eaton Bass and her husband, |
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Joseph Newman; to his grandsons, William Bass IV and Zachary Taylor |
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Bass; and to his other relatives and friends; 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of the Honorable Bill Bass. |