Bill Text: TX HR328 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of former Texas state representative Joe Barnett Cannon.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-10 - Reported enrolled [HR328 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR328-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 328 |
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the | ||
passing of former Texas state representative Joe Barnett Cannon on | ||
February 8, 2022, at the age of 87; and | ||
WHEREAS, The son of James Barnett Cannon and Virginia Buck | ||
Cannon, Joe Cannon was born in Thornton on January 29, 1935; he grew | ||
up with the companionship of his big brother, Buck, and in 1940, the | ||
family moved to Mexia; in high school, he excelled in baseball and | ||
several other sports, and his abilities in debate earned him the | ||
title of state declamation champion in 1950; he also became student | ||
body president and salutatorian of his graduating class at Mexia | ||
High; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Cannon attended North Texas State College, | ||
where he majored in political science and was active in the campus | ||
community, serving as president of the debate club, rush chair of | ||
Sigma Nu Fraternity, and president of the student body; he went on | ||
to study law at The University of Texas and was recognized as the | ||
Outstanding Advocate in the finals of the State Moot Court | ||
Competition; and | ||
WHEREAS, While finishing up law school, Mr. Cannon | ||
successfully ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, | ||
and he ultimately served three terms in office, from 1959 to 1965; | ||
during his tenure as a lawmaker, he was instrumental in passing | ||
legislation to eliminate a state poll tax, to accelerate the | ||
integration of public schools and universities, and to establish a | ||
40-hour workweek for state school and hospital employees; moreover, | ||
he served on a range of committees and was chair of the State | ||
Hospitals and Special Schools Committee during the 57th Legislature | ||
and vice chair of the Enrolled Bills Committee for the 58th | ||
Legislature; and | ||
WHEREAS, At the conclusion of his legislative service, | ||
Mr. Cannon opened a law practice in Groesbeck; throughout his | ||
distinguished legal career, he proved himself a skilled and | ||
determined attorney and was renowned for the professionalism, | ||
compassion, and courtesy he demonstrated in the course of his | ||
duties; highly respected by his peers, he served as chair of the | ||
State Bar of Texas board of directors and as chair of the district | ||
grievance committee; in recognition of his many achievements, he | ||
received an Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar | ||
Foundation in 2010; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Cannon married the former Alice Jean Sundberg in | ||
1960, and they became the parents of two children, JoAl and Thure; | ||
following the passing of Alice Jean, Mr. Cannon was fortunate | ||
enough to find love again with Debra K. Goodwin, and the couple were | ||
wed in 2000; over the years, he had the pleasure of seeing his | ||
family grow to include two stepsons, David and Thomas, two | ||
grandsons, Knox and Nash, and five step-grandchildren, Graham, | ||
Lily, Harrison, Everett, and Jude; and | ||
WHEREAS, A devoted family man, an accomplished attorney, and | ||
a dedicated public servant, Joe Cannon is deeply missed, but he | ||
leaves behind a legacy that will long be treasured by all those who | ||
held him dear; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Honorable Joe | ||
Barnett Cannon and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones; | ||
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 Joe Cannon. | ||
Kacal | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 328 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on March 8, 2023. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||