Bill Text: TX HR1957 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Richard "Racehorse" Haynes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-19 - Reported enrolled [HR1957 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR1957-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 1957 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The Texas legal community lost a true legend with | ||
| the death of Richard "Racehorse" Haynes of Trinity on April 28, | ||
| 2017, at the age of 90; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Houston on April 3, 1927, Richard Michael | ||
| Haynes was sent as a child to live with his grandmother in San | ||
| Antonio during the Great Depression; she began his education before | ||
| he was old enough for school, teaching him the three Rs and | ||
| instilling in him a love of language; as a teenager, he received his | ||
| colorful nickname from a football coach, but he distinguished | ||
| himself more in boxing, becoming a welterweight champion; he joined | ||
| the U.S. Navy after high school and earned the Navy and Marine Corps | ||
| Medal for saving two wounded marines from drowning during the | ||
| landing at Iwo Jima; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Following World War II, Mr. Haynes completed his | ||
| bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Houston and | ||
| served as a paratrooper in the Korean War before going on to | ||
| graduate from the University of Houston Law Center; his sharp | ||
| intellect, remarkable memory, and flair for drama made him a | ||
| formidable defense attorney, and early in his career, he prevailed | ||
| in 163 consecutive DWI cases, one of the longest winning streaks in | ||
| legal history; he achieved victories in numerous seemingly | ||
| impossible cases, including some 40 capital murder trials, and Time | ||
| magazine named him as one of the nation's best in his field; a | ||
| number of his high-profile cases were celebrated in books, movies, | ||
| a Broadway play, and even a song, but in 2009, he told an | ||
| interviewer that his biggest success was securing the freedom of an | ||
| African American man framed for thefts committed by a white | ||
| coworker; outside the courtroom, he was affable and engaging, and | ||
| he was a mentor as well as a role model to many younger lawyers; he | ||
| continued to practice law well into his 80s, when his health began | ||
| to decline; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Haynes was devoted to his family, and he shared a | ||
| fulfilling marriage of 63 years with his wife, Naomi Haynes, before | ||
| her death; he was the proud father of Reginald "Slade" Haynes, Jason | ||
| "Blake" Haynes, Ricki Cheryl Haynes, and the late Trayce Alexander, | ||
| grandfather of Damon "Dusty" Haynes, Dillon McGilberry, Robyn | ||
| Alexander, Kristyn Alexander, Parker Haynes, Justin O'Cain, | ||
| Sterling Haynes, and Hayley Reanne Haynes, and great-grandfather of | ||
| Cole Haynes, Tyler Richard Haynes, Madison Haynes, Alexandra | ||
| McGilberry, Naomi Grace Haynes, and Tanner O'Cain; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Racehorse Haynes will remain a name to reckon with | ||
| in the history of the legal profession, and those who were | ||
| privileged to share in his love and friendship will forever | ||
| treasure their memories of his warmth, sardonic wit, and great | ||
| kindness; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richard "Racehorse" | ||
| Haynes and extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; | ||
| 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 Richard | ||
| "Racehorse" Haynes. | ||
| Dutton | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 1957 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on May 12, 2017. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
