Bill Text: TX HR942 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: In memory of former presiding judge John F. "Jack" Onion Jr. of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-29 - Reported enrolled [HR942 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HR942-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.R. No. 942
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
 
         WHEREAS, A life of extraordinary achievement drew to a close
  with the passing of the Honorable John F. "Jack" Onion Jr. of Austin
  on September 2, 2018, at the age of 93; and
         WHEREAS, Born on March 27, 1925, in San Antonio, Jack Onion
  was the son of Judge John F. Onion and Harriet Onion and the
  grandson of former state representative John Frank Onion; after
  graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, he enlisted along
  with his twin brother, James, in the United States Marine Corps,
  where he served our country during the invasion of Okinawa and the
  occupation of Japan at the end of World War II; upon returning home
  from the war, he pursued his childhood dream to become an attorney
  by graduating from Trinity University and The University of Texas
  School of Law; and
         WHEREAS, A dedicated public servant, Judge Onion joined the
  Bexar County District Attorney's Office and went on to become chief
  of its civil division; in 1954, at the age of 29, he was elected a
  justice of the peace in Bexar County, where he brought to Texas its
  first ever medical examiner's office; continuing his success in the
  Texas judiciary, he won his campaign to preside over Bexar County
  Criminal District Court No. 2, making him the youngest elected
  district judge in the state at the time; and
         WHEREAS, In 1966, Judge Onion was elevated to a seat on the
  Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's highest criminal
  court; he subsequently became the first elected presiding judge of
  the court, after that position was made an elective office through
  passage of a constitutional amendment, and he would go on to serve
  in that capacity for 18 years; during his tenure, he authored around
  1,500 signed and published majority opinions; following his
  retirement, he continued to share his legal expertise for many
  years as a visiting judge in trial and appellate courts; and
         WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Judge Onion enjoyed the love
  and support of his wife, Nancy Lee Vogelsang Onion, his longtime
  partner in public service and family life; the couple were the
  devoted parents of three children, John, David, and Carol, and they
  were further blessed with six grandchildren, Kate, Frances, John,
  Scott, Paige, and Case; admired for his warmth, geniality, and good
  humor, as well as his great wisdom, Judge Onion always had a joke or
  anecdote ready to put a matter into perspective; and
         WHEREAS, A towering figure in the history of Texas criminal
  law jurisprudence, Judge Onion had a love of the law and a
  determination to reach the right answer in every case, and his
  legacy will live on in his many contributions to his profession and
  in the cherished memories of his loved ones, friends, and
  colleagues; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable John F.
  Onion Jr. and extend deepest condolences to his 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 Judge John
  F. Onion Jr.
 
  Landgraf
 
 
Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble
 
Allen Guillen Oliverson
 
Allison Gutierrez Ortega
 
Anchia Harless Pacheco
 
Anderson Harris Paddie
 
Ashby Hefner Parker
 
Bailes Hernandez Patterson
 
Beckley Herrero Paul
 
Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez
 
Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan
 
Bernal Howard Price
 
Biedermann Huberty Ramos
 
Blanco Hunter Raney
 
Bohac Israel Raymond
 
Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds
 
Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez
 
Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr.
 
Bucy Kacal Rose
 
Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal
 
Burrows King of Parker Sanford
 
Button King of Uvalde Schaefer
 
Cain Klick Shaheen
 
Calanni Krause Sheffield
 
Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr.
 
Capriglione Lambert Shine
 
Clardy Landgraf Smith
 
Cole Lang Smithee
 
Coleman Larson Springer
 
Collier Leach Stephenson
 
Cortez Leman Stickland
 
Craddick Longoria Stucky
 
Cyrier Lopez Swanson
 
Darby Lozano Talarico
 
Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry
 
Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
 
Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
 
Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt
 
Dominguez Meyer Toth
 
Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas
 
Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant
 
Fierro Miller VanDeaver
 
Flynn Minjarez Vo
 
Frank Moody Walle
 
Frullo Morales White
 
Geren Morrison Wilson
 
Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray
 
Goldman Murphy Wu
 
González of Dallas Murr Zedler
 
González of El Paso Neave Zerwas
 
Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 942 was unanimously adopted by a rising
  vote of the House on March 27, 2019.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
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