Bill Text: TX HR82 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: In memory of James Reed Lovell of Amarillo.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [HR82 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HR82-Enrolled.html
 
 
  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   
 
feedback