Bill Text: TX HR749 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Judge William Thomas McDonald Jr. of Bryan.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-03 - Reported enrolled [HR749 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR749-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 749 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The city of Bryan lost a distinguished citizen with | ||
| the death of the Honorable William Thomas McDonald Jr. on February | ||
| 17, 2021, at the age of 81; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Bryan on February 15, 1940, to W. T. and | ||
| Nonie McDonald, Tom McDonald earned his law degree from The | ||
| University of Texas at Austin in 1966; he married the former | ||
| Caroline Sweeney in 1965, and he took great pride in his sons, Scott | ||
| and Don, daughter-in-law, Amanda, and grandchildren, Hunter and | ||
| Grace; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Over the course of an outstanding career in the law, | ||
| Mr. McDonald served as assistant district attorney in Travis County | ||
| and as county attorney and district attorney in Brazos County; he | ||
| followed in his father's footsteps to become judge of the 85th | ||
| Judicial District, and since 1991 he had served throughout the | ||
| state as a senior district judge; he further contributed to his | ||
| profession as president of the Brazos County Bar Association; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A leader in his community, Judge McDonald was a | ||
| founder of Brazos County Humane Society, Brazos County Counseling | ||
| Service, and Boonville Heritage Park, and he held leadership roles | ||
| with the City of Bryan Parks and Recreation Board and the Brazos | ||
| Valley Groundwater Conservation District; a man of strong religious | ||
| faith, he was an active member of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church of | ||
| Bryan; he also was admired for his patriotism, his love of nature, | ||
| and his dedication to history, education, and the fair and just | ||
| application of the law; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Judge McDonald's numerous honors include the Samuel | ||
| Pessarra Outstanding Civil Jurist Award from the Texas Bar | ||
| Foundation, the Outstanding Criminal Jurist Award from the State | ||
| Bar of Texas, and the Silver Good Citizenship Award from the Sons of | ||
| Herrmann, among many others; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A respected jurist and an engaged citizen, Tom | ||
| McDonald lived a life that was rich in personal and professional | ||
| achievements, and he will forever be a source of inspiration to | ||
| those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Judge William | ||
| Thomas McDonald Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members | ||
| of his family and to his many 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 Tom | ||
| McDonald. | ||
| Raney | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 749 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on April 30, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
