SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 362
 
 
  In Memory
  of
  Jimmy Don Blair
 
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
  commemorates the life of Jimmy Don Blair, who died in 2023 at the
  age of 81; and
 
         WHEREAS, Jimmy Don Blair was born on September 27, 1941,
  in the town of Borger in the Texas Panhandle; an accomplished
  athlete and student, he graduated from Borger High School and
  went on to attend Oklahoma University; a talented and
  adventurous young man, Jim earned his pilot license, and after
  deciding to pursue a career in law rather than medicine during
  his senior year, he flew to The University of Texas to enroll
  in law school; and
 
         WHEREAS, Jim was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1967 and
  moved to the Texas Panhandle, where he served the City of
  Amarillo as assistant city attorney and as city judge; Jim also
  served as the assistant district attorney of Randall County
  before later relocating to Houston; and
 
         WHEREAS, Throughout his time in public service, Jim sought
  to create more efficient and effective processes in local
  government to better serve citizens, and he and three other city
  attorneys formed a private law firm dedicated to performing
  essential services to aid local governments, beginning with the
  collection of delinquent property taxes; and
 
         WHEREAS, Highly respected by his colleagues, community
  members, and clients, Jim was profoundly knowledgeable in many
  legal fields and used his expertise to improve the lives of
  others; he was instrumental in updating the Texas Property Tax
  Code by drafting legislation that penalized delinquent taxpayers
  rather than burdening taxing entities and other taxpaying
  citizens; and
 
         WHEREAS, In 1980, Jim transferred his legal practice to
  Houston to be of service to more people; over ensuing decades, he
  and his partners altered the firm, which now is known as
  Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, and Sampson; he retired in 2006 and
  became a senior advisor to the firm; and
 
         WHEREAS, Jim was a man of deep faith who gave unselfishly
  to others throughout his life; guided by a spirit of generosity,
  he hosted more than 300 fundraisers over 10 years and contributed
  to numerous philanthropic organizations, including disaster
  relief efforts, and foundations to support education, cancer
  patients, community clinics, and a food bank; and
         WHEREAS, Named the hometown hero of The Woodlands in 2011,
  he was widely known and admired throughout the community, where
  he shared 35 rewarding years of marriage with Nelda Luce Blair;
  he was a devoted father to his daughter, Maris Ann Blair, and a
  loving father-in-law to her husband, David Hall, and, his
  kindness and wisdom were a source of light in the lives of those
  around him; he leaves behind an inspiring legacy of generosity
  and service, and his memory will be forever cherished by his many
  loved ones and by all who were privileged to share in his life;
  now, therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
  family of Jimmy Don Blair; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
  Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
  memory of Jim Blair.
 
  Creighton
 
 
Bettencourt Huffman Parker
 
Campbell Kolkhorst Zaffirini
 
Nichols
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on March 29, 2023, by a
    rising vote.
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate